Information Sources in Science and Technology (3rd ed.) Library and Information Science Text Series

Citation

Shelton, M. (2000), "Information Sources in Science and Technology (3rd ed.) Library and Information Science Text Series", Collection Building, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 78-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/cb.2000.19.2.78.2

Charlie Hurt has brought to print a third edition of his previously excellent guide to information resources in the broad fields of science and technology. In doing so he has succeeded in bringing forth another excellent reference work. As might be expected, there are similarities to the previous editions. All of the previous areas of the sciences are still covered, with numerous resources identified and short annotations included; yet it is the differences that make this edition stand out.

The first difference is in what resources were actually included. The previous two editions each included over 2,000 resources covering what was current at the time, as well as many important older texts. In the new edition Hurt primarily covers only those resources published in this decade. This means that the majority of the resources identified are unique to this edition. There is a sense that this is a second volume to the previous edition. By restricting resources to the current decade, fewer resources are identified, with about 1,600 items listed.

The next change is in some of the topics covered. The area of computer science has been improved with the addition of information technology resources. The unit dealing with health and veterinary sciences has been subdivided in this edition. The area of health sciences is dealt with by itself, and veterinary sciences have been grouped with two new areas, agriculture and food sciences. Additionally, under each area of science the material type called “electronic sources” in the previous edition has been replaced by “Web sites” in this edition.

The author indicates that the Web sites are both significant and stable. Unlike all the other resources, no annotations are given for the Web sites, although a single sentence is provided, often only giving the name of the sponsoring organization.

By keeping what was good about previous editions and by making changes that make this edition uniquely significant, Hurt has produced another excellent reference work. If a previous edition is owned, then this edition will update the previous while maintaining value in both editions. If no previous edition is owned, then it succeeds in standing alone as a guide to the most current resources. Whether picked up as a reference work in a library or used as a personal tool, this book will be a valuable addition for the specialist and the generalist working in the sciences.