Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A guide for librarians and for scientists in the life sciences to the full range of information resources, including those that may contain vital information but are increasingly overshadowed by the glitter of new electronic media. Among the 25 articles are considerations of the contents pages of jo

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

This is a third edition of R.T. Bottle's basic reference guide, The Use of Biological Literature (2nd ed., CH, Oct '76). Editor Wyatt (community medicine, University of Leeds) was coeditor with Bottle on the previous two editions. Several chapters from the previous editions on foreign serials and translations, patent literature, and botanical taxonomy have been omitted; other chapters on online searching, databanks, and biotechnology have been added, reflecting Wyatt's stated purpose ``to make it a guide rather than a compendium for the working scientist and information specialist.'' The emphasis is clearly on British sources; however, the coverage is certainly international in scope. All the major US indexing and abstracting services, journals, and databases are included. For each major subject area (biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, genetics, zoology, ecology, and botany) a review of the literature is given. This includes the historic or classic works in the field, the important dictionaries and handbooks, a core list of journals, and the major monographic or reviewing series in the field. A final chapter on the history of biology includes a lengthy bibliography on the subject. Not only will biologists find this volume useful, but librarians will want to check their holdings for collection development purposes. Highly recommended for all academic libraries.-R.G. Sabin, Auburn University