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Cuneiform to Computer

A History of Reference Sources

William A. Katz

Cuneiform to Computer provides a brief history of how reference works developed, but concentrates on how they reflect attitudes of their particular period of publication. Each chapter focuses on a basic reference form and highlights the major titles in its evolution. Stress is on the inter-relationship of reference sources with social change and development.
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Scarecrow Press
Pages: 440 • Trim: 5¾ x 8¾
978-0-8108-3290-9 • Hardback • March 1998 • $138.00 • (£106.00)
Series: The History of the Book
Subjects: Reference / Bibliographies & Indexes
William A. Katz is Professor at the School of Information Science and Policy at the State University of New York at Albany. He is editor of The Reference Librarian and The Acquisitions Librarian. He is also editor of Magazines for Libraries and has compiled a second edition of The Columbia Granger's Guide to Poetry Anthologies, as well as the seventh edition of his Introduction to Reference Work.
Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Reference Books from Cuneiform to Computers
Chapter 3 Encyclopedias
Chapter 4 Commonplace Books to Books of Quotations
Chapter 5 The Reference of Time: Almanacs, Calendars, Chronologies, Chronicles
Chapter 6 Ready Reference Books: Handbooks and Manuals
Chapter 7 Dictionaries Grammar and Rhetoric
Chapter 8 Maps and Travel Guides
Chapter 9 Biography
Chapter 10 Bibliography, Serials, and Indexes
Chapter 11 Government Documents
Chapter 12 Epilogue
Chapter 13 Chronology
Katz delves deeply into reference history...every page is filled with facts that you can drop casually at the next cocktail party or budget hearing...
— Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie


Katz's way with words is apparent throughout...an illuminating and readable book.
— Choice Reviews


...a delight...this book should be read by all aspiring reference librarians...a welcome addition to library literature and the history of the book.
— Lisca


The particular strength of this informative work is that it assembles material from diverse sources into a well-integrated study of the entire spectrum of reference materials. A thoroughly readable and authoritative history enriched by Katz's eclectic selections of comments, reflections and criticism from compilers and readers of reference works.
— AB Bookman's Weekly


I know of no such book as this: a history of reference sources in general...a dip into just one page and I was hooked. What more heady read for a reference librarian than a book about the origin of the books of their trade, and how they came to be, and why...now we have a history devoted to "our" books, our inheritance...with some 400 pages of text, a 27-page index, and 956 bibliographical and elaborative notes, Katz has done us a tremendous service...the depth of knowledge is impressive...anyone doing historical and literary research or interested in our intellectual history would do well to use this.
— Bob Duckett; Reference Reviews


...fascinating survey of reference titles...
— American Libraries


Katz's book is an impressive brief history, and is also a pleasure to read...
— The Library Association Record


Cuneiform to Computer

A History of Reference Sources

Cover Image
Hardback
Summary
Summary
  • Cuneiform to Computer provides a brief history of how reference works developed, but concentrates on how they reflect attitudes of their particular period of publication. Each chapter focuses on a basic reference form and highlights the major titles in its evolution. Stress is on the inter-relationship of reference sources with social change and development.
Details
Details
  • Scarecrow Press
    Pages: 440 • Trim: 5¾ x 8¾
    978-0-8108-3290-9 • Hardback • March 1998 • $138.00 • (£106.00)
    Series: The History of the Book
    Subjects: Reference / Bibliographies & Indexes
Author
Author
  • William A. Katz is Professor at the School of Information Science and Policy at the State University of New York at Albany. He is editor of The Reference Librarian and The Acquisitions Librarian. He is also editor of Magazines for Libraries and has compiled a second edition of The Columbia Granger's Guide to Poetry Anthologies, as well as the seventh edition of his Introduction to Reference Work.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Chapter 1 Preface
    Chapter 2 Reference Books from Cuneiform to Computers
    Chapter 3 Encyclopedias
    Chapter 4 Commonplace Books to Books of Quotations
    Chapter 5 The Reference of Time: Almanacs, Calendars, Chronologies, Chronicles
    Chapter 6 Ready Reference Books: Handbooks and Manuals
    Chapter 7 Dictionaries Grammar and Rhetoric
    Chapter 8 Maps and Travel Guides
    Chapter 9 Biography
    Chapter 10 Bibliography, Serials, and Indexes
    Chapter 11 Government Documents
    Chapter 12 Epilogue
    Chapter 13 Chronology
Reviews
Reviews
  • Katz delves deeply into reference history...every page is filled with facts that you can drop casually at the next cocktail party or budget hearing...
    — Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie


    Katz's way with words is apparent throughout...an illuminating and readable book.
    — Choice Reviews


    ...a delight...this book should be read by all aspiring reference librarians...a welcome addition to library literature and the history of the book.
    — Lisca


    The particular strength of this informative work is that it assembles material from diverse sources into a well-integrated study of the entire spectrum of reference materials. A thoroughly readable and authoritative history enriched by Katz's eclectic selections of comments, reflections and criticism from compilers and readers of reference works.
    — AB Bookman's Weekly


    I know of no such book as this: a history of reference sources in general...a dip into just one page and I was hooked. What more heady read for a reference librarian than a book about the origin of the books of their trade, and how they came to be, and why...now we have a history devoted to "our" books, our inheritance...with some 400 pages of text, a 27-page index, and 956 bibliographical and elaborative notes, Katz has done us a tremendous service...the depth of knowledge is impressive...anyone doing historical and literary research or interested in our intellectual history would do well to use this.
    — Bob Duckett; Reference Reviews


    ...fascinating survey of reference titles...
    — American Libraries


    Katz's book is an impressive brief history, and is also a pleasure to read...
    — The Library Association Record


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