Guide to Reference and Information Sources in Plant Biology

Citation

Millar, P. (2007), "Guide to Reference and Information Sources in Plant Biology", Library Review, Vol. 56 No. 8, pp. 745-746. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530710818144

This bibliography of nearly 1,000 annotated entries covers every conceivable aspect of plant biology. It is part of the “Reference Sources in Science and Technology” series. The third edition of a classic bibliography, it retains the best features of its predecessor, published ten years ago, with greatly expanded coverage of web sites.

The emphasis is on authoritative web sites and recent books and journals that are in print, although important classic resources that are no longer in print are also included if they are still widely available in libraries in the USA. In order to keep the information on web‐based resources up‐to‐date, the authors have created a companion web site, Web Resources in Plant Biology. This site contains all the web‐accessible material annotated in the guide and ensures that the URLs are kept current. Web sites have been chosen for inclusion using the same criteria as for print material, namely that they are authoritative and important, come from a reputable source and are likely to remain available for the foreseeable future. Only book‐length works are covered: book chapters, journal articles and single web pages are excluded. The guide focuses on core materials for botanists and plant biologists, excluding gardening and agriculture resources. Agriculture has its own extensive literature including crop science and plant pathology.

The guide is organized by topic rather than format. The coverage includes: General sources; History and Biography; Plant Evolution and Paleobotany; Ethnobotany; Ecology; Anatomy, Morphology, and Development; Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology; Plant Physiology and Phytochemistry; Systematics and Identification.

Each chapter begins with a short explanatory section defining the chapter topic and describing what it encompasses. Reference is made to related material in other chapters which may also be of interest. This feature would be of particular use to a reader unfamiliar with the technical terms used in this field. An introductory chapter discusses the literature of plant biology.

For each of the topics mentioned above, the types of material annotated in the guide include the following: Bibliographies and guides to the literature; Databases, abstracts and indexes; Serials, journals and review publications; Dictionaries and encyclopedias; Handbooks and methods; Textbooks and treatises; Associations, professional societies and organizations. The annotations vary considerably in length but all are interesting and sufficiently detailed to be useful.

The introductory chapter is a very interesting look in general at the literature of plant biology. A brief history of botany from Greek and Roman times up to the present day is followed by a fascinating look at the characteristics of the modern plant biology literature, and what the future may hold. This would be a useful introduction for someone new to this field.

This is a comprehensive guide and would be equally useful both to experienced researchers trying to identify the most useful resource for a particular question, and to librarians responsible for reference collections in plant biology, and can be thoroughly recommended.