Editorial

Two contributions to this issue of Reference Reviews deserve particular mention. The first is North American regional editor David Oberhelman’s viewpoint article on Web 2.0. Reference has always been an interactive process between clients and reference intermediaries (e.g. librarians), but the new generation of web tools mean that information sources themselves can receive direct input from the user that can then be made available for all subsequent visitors to view and challenge. This is a revolutionary step and, as David points out, one that will pose particular questions of authority and quality. The reference “comfort zone”, knowing that information is largely the preserve of reliable and trusted publishers/database hosts, already challenged by Web 1.0, is set for further erosion.

The issue of the role and indeed survival of “quality” information sources in a wiki world is also the underlying theme of Terry O’Brien’s perceptive review of the latest edition of OUP’s A Dictionary of World History (RR 2007/249). Terry poses the questions “Who would use such a resource and for what purpose?” and “is this really a relevant item for libraries today?” where there are “countless free online resources available, many of which are open source with user-generated content”. Although Terry concludes “A Dictionary of World History remains relevant to the twenty-first century by virtue of its erudition and content”,we must continuously ask if it is not just printed reference sources that have had their day, but electronic reference tools as entities that dispense rather than receive information. Interactivity, the ability to communicate with others,to add content and to customize, is what users of all forms of reference information will increasingly expect and demand.

Looking to other reviews in this issue, virtual reality is another in vogue web development that features strongly. Digital Roman Forum (RR 2007/350)is the most prominent example, using virtual reality to bring archaeology to life by recreating the Forum of Ancient Rome. The American Museum of Photography (RR 20007/337) bills itself as a “virtual museum”offering 5,000 individual images from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Also originally from the early years of the last century is The Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent), all 15 volumes of which are available in digital format (not be confused with the New Catholic Encyclopedia, the latest edition of which was recently reviewed in these columns (RR 2003/230)). Another major digitization project launching with a focus on the early years of the twentieth century is the US National Digital Newspapers Program Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers (RR 2007/345). Beginning with newspapers from six states and Washington DC this will become a major source,rivalling the Readex Early American Newspapers series.

Turning to some of the printed sources reviewed in this issue, special mention must be made of the latest edition of Hans Zell’s African Studies Companion (RR 2007/352). Not only is this a masterful survey of resources in the African studies field, but purchasers of the book have access to a regularly updated website providing new and amended detail. In addition,Zell provides an excellent chapter on getting the best out of Google for researchers in the field. Routledge continue to produce some excellent subject encyclopaedias. In this issue we feature the Encyclopedia of Buddhism (RR 2007/314), the two-volume International Encyclopedia of Adolescence (RR 2007/318) and the new edition of the Companion Encyclopedia of Geography(RR 2007/346). Amongst other publishers persisting with the print-based encyclopaedia are Greenwood and Gale. From the former we have the Encyclopedia of American Civil Rights and Liberties (RR 2007/316), continuing the publisher’s run of titles on similar topics over the last few years, and Shakespeare after Shakespeare: An Encyclopedia of the Bard in Mass Media (RR 2007/329),a title all too easy to wrongly dismiss as an attempt to squeeze another reference work out of an overdone Shakesperian theme. From Gale we have the Schirmer Encyclopedia of Film (RR 2007/340), four volumes covering another well-worked reference area, but still a useful and valuable set that can justifiably make the claim of “standard work”.

Another publisher where encyclopaedic works form a significant proportion of output is history specialist ABC-Clio, represented in these columns by World Fascism: A Historical Encyclopedia (RR 2007/321). As this issue was being finalised there was news that the Santa Barbara based family owned company,founded as long ago as 1953, had agreed the sale of the two products for which it is most well known, Historical Abstracts and America History and Life, to EBSCO Publishing. In addition, it was also announced that EBSCO would distribute eight other ABC-Clio online products, including the new History Reference Online collection of reference e-books. Further information on what is presented as an “unprecedented partnership” can be found at www.abc-clio.com/mark/pdf/ABC-CLIO-EBSCO_PR_06-15-07.pdf,and no doubt this new tie-up will have benefits for users and help to increase the profile of ABC-Clio’s excellent electronic output. It appears the company will continue to produce the content and maintain the interface for the sold databases, so perhaps it this is only a brand and marketing change. However, as a long term admirer and user of ABC-Clio print and electronic resources with fond memories of the now increasingly forgotten World Bibliographical Series, it is hard not to feel a pang of regret at the selling of the company’s “crown jewels”. We have regularly commented on the concentration of reference resources in a handful of major players and this is but further confirmation of that trend. Whether this will be harmful for the information world remains to be seen – but then perhaps it will not matter. In the longer run Web 2.0 with its wikis and personal libraries may make the indexing and abstracting database and all other “traditional”reference tools, even when puffed with full text and littered with links, an anachronism.

Tony ChalcraftEditor, Reference Reviews, and University Librarian, York St John University, York, UK