With so much unverified information available on the Internet, it can be difficult to choose reputable sources. Making it easier on librarians, Sowards (associate director for collections, Michigan State Univ. Libs., coauthor, Guide to Reference in Business and Economics) and managing editor of American Reference Books Annual (ARBA) Chenoweth have compiled a core list of best reference sources from ARBA and ARBAonline. The volume contains 500 reviews drawn from 29,000 titles published in ARBA from 2000 to the present. Each book reviewed was published by a reputable source and selected by numerous libraries for their collections; reviewers are identified by expertise and affiliation. Supplementary notes are added to newer editions and related works. Certain categories are omitted, such as directories, bibliographies, and indexing and abstracting tools. It's noted that some suggested sources may be too old or be unbalanced in terms of coverage. Online sources (Wikipedia, Google Maps) are included. VERDICT Libraries without access to ARBA or ARBAonline should consider this reasonably priced title. Library and information science students will also find it beneficial.-Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This hefty volume offers 500 brief reviews of what Sowards (Michigan State Univ. Libraries) and Chenoweth (managing editor of American Reference Books Annual [ARBA] and ARBAonline) consider "significant reference tools" published over the last 18 years. The editors made their selection using ARBA and ARBAonline, adding Dewey and LC classifications and some supplementary notes. The entries in this curated collection are authoritative, reliable reference resources that have stood the test of time and are in widespread use in US libraries. The selections appear under six headings: "General Reference Works," "Social Sciences," "History and Area Studies," "Humanities," "Sciences," and "Health Sciences." Subject and title indexes are provided. Though the editors include some free online resources, the majority are more traditional reference works; digital versions are likely available for many of the print resources. There is certainly a demand for such materials, but their ubiquity is no longer a given. Thus, the preponderance of expensive, multivolume sets among the recommendations--which will give smaller libraries with limited budgets pause. Nonetheless, this is a useful compilation of trusted reference tools. Summing Up: Recommended. Professionals. --Andrea Kingston, Monroe Community College