Evaluation of Reference Tools

EVALUATION OF REFERENCE TOOLS

Q. How is the physical book? Quality production, cover, binding?

Q. What does the Title Page say about scope, author's credentials, publisher, date?

Q. What does the Preface say about the scope, purpose, and special features?

Q. Is the tool accurate? Authoritative? Current? What is the edition number?

Q. How is the Table of Contents? Does the tool have a good arrangement?
Cross-references? Chronological? By subject or author?

Q. Is it a selective or a comprehensive list? Does the book say if and where a source exists?

Q. How are the entries annotated? Are there illustrations, tables, figures?

Q. Is there a Glossary? Appendix? Index?

Q. Does the reference tool give quick and good answers?

Q. Has the book been peer reviewed?