How To Evaluate Books

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To evaluate a book look for:

Purpose: Why was the book written? To:
inform?
For example: sequence of historical events, results of lengthy study or experiment
persuade?
For example: to change point of view, outlook, beliefs, or behavior
entertain?
For example: most fiction, humor, gossip
teach how to do something?
For example: resumes, cover letters, business plans, needlework, woodwork
give an overview?
For example: textbooks, encyclopedias
Publisher: Who published the book
A university press?
Commercial publisher?
Professional or Trade Association, Institution, or Research Center?
Government (US, state, local)?
Vanity (self-published)?
University theses and dissertations are considered published by the university that granted the degree to
the student who wrote it.
Organization and Content: Examine the table of contents and/or headings to determine if the
book is organized in a logical and understandable manner. Do the contents indicate that the book
contains the information you need? Is there added material such as appendices?
Date of Publication: Some topics, such as those in the health sciences, require current
information. Other subjects, such as geology, value older material as well as current. Know the time
needs of your topic and examine the timeliness of the book; is it:
up-to-date,
out-of-date, or
timeless?
Authority/author: Is the author an expert in this field? Where is the author employed? What else
has he/she written? Has he/she won awards or honors?
Bibliography: Scholarly works always contain a bibliography of the resources that were
consulted. The references in this list should be in sufficient quantity and be appropriate for the content.
Look for:
if a bibliography exists,
if the bibliography is short or long,
if the bibliography is selective or comprehensive,
if the references are primary sources (ex. journal articles) or only secondary sources (ex.
encyclopedias),
if the references are contemporary to the book or much older, and
if the citation style is clear and consistent.
Usefulness: Is the book relevant to the current research project? A well-researched, well-written,
etc. book is not going to be helpful if it does not address the topic at hand. Ask, "is this book useful to
me"? If it is useful, does it:
support an argument
refute an argument
give examples (survey results, primary research findings, case studies, incidents)
provide "wrong" information that can be challenged or disagreed with productively
Coverage: Does the book cover the topic comprehensively, partially or is it an overview?
Audience: For what type of reader is the author writing? Is the level of the book appropriate for
your needs? Is the book for:

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general readers,
students (high school, college, graduate),
specialists or professionals,
researchers or scholars?
Illustrations: Are charts, graphs, maps, photographs, etc. used to illustrate concepts? Are the
illustrations relevant? Are they clear and professional-looking?

Context: Information is contextual. Who, what, when, where, why, and how will impact whether or
not a resource is useful to you.

EVALUATION OF ENCYCLOPEDIAS

Home
REFERENCE QUESTIONS
EVALUATION OF INDEXES
AND ABSTRACTS
EVALUATION OF
ALMANACS, HANDBOOKS,
AND YEARBOOKS
EVALUATION OF
BIOGRAPHIES
EVALUATION OF
DICTIONARIES
EVALUATION OF TOP
BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES
EVALUATION OF
ENCYCLOPEDIAS
ONLINE DATABASE
ASSIGNMENT
FIRSTSEARCH SITES
LAY OF THE LAND
EBSCO HOST LAB
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
LAB
GALE REFERENCE SHELF
LAB
BIBLIOGRAPHIC CONTROL
LAB
ENCYCLOPEDIA LAB
LIBRARY VISIT
EVALUATION OF
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

Submitted December 1

ABSTRACT

Valerie Buck, Mary Coyle, Lisa Sedita, Susan Tidd and I collaborated to review t
following list of encyclopedia sources. As we attempted to complete this assignment at
same time we were completing the dictionary assignment, many of our methods are the
same: we had initially divided the list by fourths, and then made the necessary adjustmen
when we gained a fifth group member. We communicated via email, oftentimes address
emails to everyone in the group. As the reviewing process progressed, we ended up
swapping some encyclopedias here and there, as we realized that some were more difficu
to find than others. Fortunately, our team of five covers a variety of libraries; while we
may have encountered some initial problems locating a source, eventually another memb
of the group was able to locate it at her library of preference.
Although we had initially discussed submitting the assignment prior to the
Thanksgiving holiday, eventually, we unanimously decided to grant ourselves an extra
weekend to email our contributions to each other. I evaluated the following sources:
Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com, Random House

Encyclopedia, andhttp://www.worldbook.com/. I was also

assigned http://www.eb.com:180/. However, I was unable to access this website (please refer to
email sent on November 18 for further explanation). Since this meant I ended up with fewer
resources to evaluate, I compiled the final list, cutting, pasting, and ensuring that the text size, fo
and format were consistent. The result is a detailed list of evaluations that covers a variety of
encyclopedias. I am confident that this reference toll will prove to be invaluable throughout my
career in the field of library science, for, as Katz (2002) says in Introduction to Reference Work:
Basic Information Services, Volume 1, encyclopedias are the single most used sources.

EVALUATION OF
GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCES

New Encyclopedia Britannica. (Academic edition)

*The Wheaton College library does not house a print version: patrons can utilize
this resource via online access.

Authority: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. was originally established in Scotland

1700s before reaching Chicago, IL. Printed products of Britannica sets were owned by
leading historical figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander
Hamilton. Today, its products range in diversity, in order to accommodate for
technological needs. ** Codie Award Finalist for Best Education Reference or Search
Service and Codie Award Winner for Best Online Consumer Information Service.
Scope: Over 75,000 articles, including 23,000 biographies. Full text articles from over 7
magazines and periodicals. Links to over 166,000 websites. Over 27,000 images and ma
Format: Main page can be divided into three sections. Left side has Research tools: th
index, A-Z browse, subject browse, world atlas, compare countries, timelines, the year in
review browse, world data, video browse, and notable quotations. The middle portion gi
users the option to review highlights, the biography of the day, or the day in history. Left
side column has features news links from the New York Times, the BBC News, and SBS
News. Finally, across the top pf the main screen in a search box, followed by a link to
conduct and advanced search. The guided tour section explains the format of the website
and provides explanations of each section. The workspace feature allows user to create
personal webpages to house articles for research projects.
Entries: Entries are in the format of an article. Users can switch to printable version or
email themselves the article. Each entry gives users the option to submit comments or
questions. Links to related topics within the article are underlined and written in blue tex
Special Feature: Users are instructed on how to cite each article site they visit in both
MLA and APA style format.
Overall Evaluation: I was disappointed when I first looked for this set at the library, on
to find that we only had an online version. It seems like libraries, as a whole, are straying
away from print material in favor of the comparable online version. However, in this
instance, I can understand why the online version of New Encyclopedia Britannica woul
be a worthwhile investment. The online version features daily updates that would not be
possible in a print version. In addition to a highlights section, the website also contain
biography of the day feature and a this day in history section. Similarly, links to the
New York Times, BBC News, and SBS World News are provided. Invaluable reference,
the online version goes beyond the realm of print articles by providing users with websit
magazine and periodical articles, news, and more.

http://www.britannica.com
Authority: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. was originally established in Scotland
1700s before reaching Chicago, IL. Printed products of Britannica sets were owned by
leading historical figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander
Hamilton. Today, its products range in diversity, in order to accommodate for
technological needs.
Scope: Over 122,264 articles, world atlas, dictionary and thesaurus. Articles from over 4
magazines and journals. The scope does not appear to be as large as the online academic

version, which was evaluated earlier.

Format: Two search engines: Britannica online and dictionary/thesaurus. There are
similarities between this website and the online academic version of The New
Encyclopedia Britannica. For example: highlights pages, this day in history section,
biography of the day. This page is busier. There are more advertisements and images. Bo
on main screen flashes images of different articles continuously. Link to a free trial
(subscriptions necessary). In addition to a link to the home screen, there are links to blog
advocacy, board, newsletters, international, and store.
Entries: The entries vary depending on whether or not users are members. For nonusers
there are concise versions of limited resulting articles. Members have access to the full t
In order to promote membership, a pictorial graph compares what members using the fre
trial have access to versus the materials accessible to members. The style of entries is the
same as that found in the online academic version on New Encyclopedia Britannica.
Special Feature: Student center targeted for children nine years and older. Sections
include: student encyclopedia, world atlas and timelines, research tools (how to write a
science report, book review, research paper, and prepare for an oral presentation), video
multimedia, dictionary and thesaurus, and magazines and web guide.
Overall Evaluation: Subscriptions cost $69.95. This subscription appears to be a more
worthwhile investment than the printed version of the set. Users have access to more
articles, websites, and news related features than in the print version. A worthy
investment for libraries; however, it is not as comprehensive as the online academic
version.

Random House Encyclopedia. Rev. 3d. ed. New York: Random House, 1990.
Authority: Based in New York City, Random House was founded in 1927
Cerf and Donald Klopfer. The company first began reference publishing in 1947, when i
published American College Dictionary, followed by its first unabridged dictionary in
1966.
Scope: 13,500 illustrations in the special Colorpedia section (pictures,
photographs, diagrams, illustrations, drawings, maps and charts).
Format: Over 2,000 pages. Color images. 132 page world atlas. Alphapedia,
Colorpedia, Time Chart and atlas/gazetteer sections.
Entries: Double pages; connection section for each entry. Limited information.
Overall Evaluation: Given the fact that the most recent edition was published in 1990,
is not a book necessary for a library. Similarly, since all of the information is in a single
volume set, it cannot possibly be as thorough as other brands of encyclopedias. Used cop
can be purchased on Amazon.com for as little as $5.00. Depending on ones resources, it
would not hurt to invest in a nicer edition of a used copy (to simply have on hand at hom
however, with the amount of information that is now available online (most offering free
trials), it is certainly not a necessity.
World Book Encyclopedia. http://www.worldbook.com/
* I was surprised that I could not locate a print nor online version of this set. Therefore,
evaluation is the result of reviewing the website.
Authority: World Book was founded in 1917. Its headquarters are located
in Chicago,Illinois. It is a leading provider of reference materials for both adults and

children. World Book Encyclopedia is the number one selling print encyclopedia in the
world. The company produces over 90 reference materials, including World Book Studen
Discovery Encyclopedia, Animals of the World, World Book's Science & Nature
Guides, Student Discovery Science Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Flags,
Space Exploration Library, Human Body Works, and Biographical Connections
Scope: An online subscription gives users access to all of the articles found in the print
edition and thousands more (25,000 articles). Similarly, the online version contains over
9,500 pictures and maps, 115 videos and animations, 9,300 sounds, and over 100 simula
historic websites. Subscriptions also entitle users access World Book Kids
Format: Main screen has lots of link to choose from: a school and libraries site, link to
World Book Kids, a trivia question of the day, most popular encyclopedia articles, media
showcase, today in history, typical course of study (for parents), content spotlight section
world climates, a did you know? section, a section to browse, the World Book dictiona
World Book Atlas, a section for international users, and the World Book newsletter. The
store link allows user to peruse and purchase all World Book products.
Entries: Non subscribers have limited access to articles. The articles that I was able to
view appeared to be lengthy and thorough. Some included pictures. The language is easy
understand. At the end of each article is a colored box with text that prompts users to
subscribe to World Book, in order to learn more. A comparison in the form of a pie chart
compares how information subscribers have access to versus non subscribers.
Overall Evaluation: Interested subscribers can choose from three plan options: 1 year f
$49.95, 1 month for $9.95, $3.95. Given the scope of coverage, the online version is a
much more worthwhile investment than the print set. Free trials do not appear to be an
option, most likely because a three day trial is so inexpensive. Although the website was
user friendly and informative, The New Encyclopedia Britannica appears to be a better
investment. It has over 122,000 articles, while the World Book boasts having 25,000.
Similarly, a subscription to the New Encyclopedia Britannica entitles users to more news
related links, while the World Book only advertises access to World Book Kid

ENCYCLOPEDIA LAB

Submitted November 28

As my group members and I collaborated to review the list of encyclopedias, on

stood out: most libraries are abandoning the print versions of encyclopedias in favo
online versions. There are many advantages to adopting online sources. For examp
do not take up shelf space. Similarly, oftentimes the online version has more to off
with features such as daily current events, links to other informative websites, and m

Home
REFERENCE QUESTIONS
EVALUATION OF INDEXES
AND ABSTRACTS
EVALUATION OF
ALMANACS, HANDBOOKS,
AND YEARBOOKS
EVALUATION OF
BIOGRAPHIES
EVALUATION OF
DICTIONARIES
EVALUATION OF TOP
BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES
EVALUATION OF
ENCYCLOPEDIAS
ONLINE DATABASE
ASSIGNMENT
FIRSTSEARCH SITES
LAY OF THE LAND
EBSCO HOST LAB
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
LAB
GALE REFERENCE SHELF
LAB
BIBLIOGRAPHIC CONTROL
LAB
ENCYCLOPEDIA LAB
LIBRARY VISIT
EVALUATION OF
GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
EVALUATION OF
GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCES

visual images. It was not until I sat down to do this assignment and tested a variety
that I gained a complete understanding of the value of an online encyclopedia.
I investigated the online version of New Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclo
Britannica Online, a resource available at the Wheaton College Library. I had know
my initial evaluation that Wheaton College does not house a print version; however
intrigued by what I had seen of the online version during the first evaluation
process. Therefore, I thought it would be an interesting resource to evaluate further
I had learned from my initial evaluation that the Encyclopedia Britannica se
credible. Printed sets of the series were owned by historical greats such as George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. Furthermore, Encyclope
Britannica Online was a Codie Award Finalist for Best Education Reference or Se
Service and a Codie Award Winner for Best Online Consumer Information Servic
Perhaps this is in part because contains over 75,000 articles, 23,000 biographies, ov
27,000 images and maps, and links to over 166,000 websites.
As suggested in the Evaluating Encyclopedias handout, I began my inves
by researching a broad topic: abortion. This produced 333 results. In addition to th
the article, the results page also contains an excerpt from the article, so users will h
understanding of the material featured in the article prior to selecting it. Another ni
feature of Encyclopeadia Britannica Online (unavailable in print versions is that use
navigate to other links highlighted within the text.
Since I already had knowledge of this topic, I then decided to investigate a t
with which I was less familiar in order to test whether or not the source provided a
explanation. Using the subject browse feature, I came across the topic trisvabhava,
learned is a Buddhist theory. Buddhism is an unfamiliar topic to me; however,
Encyclopeadia Britannica Online attempts to use a language that is easy to
understand. Further more, explanations of unfamiliar (yet related) terms are provid
parenthesis.
The Wheaton College Library does not provide users with access to a CD R
version of Encyclopeadia Britannica Online; I would surmise that while CD Rom b
outdated each, subscribing to the online service would ensure the most accurate
information while enabling an infinite number of patrons to benefit from use.
Prior to concluding this evaluation, I wish to make note of one drawback: w
article provides both MLA and APA style citations, the author of articles is not clea