Information Sources in the Life Sciences 4th edition

Citation

Guha, M. (1998), "Information Sources in the Life Sciences 4th edition", Collection Building, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 48-48. https://doi.org/10.1108/cb.1998.17.1.48.7

It is true that all ages are ages of transition. It seems to me, however, that in regard to a book on information sources in the life sciences this is even more of an age of transition than most. Both the life sciences and methods of handling information have changed considerably since the last edition of this book in 1987. On present predictions, however, they are both likely to have changed out of all recognition by 2007. Molecular genetics did already exist in 1987, but developments in molecular biotechnology since then, and therefore in its information services, have been so great as to start swamping the rest of the life sciences. There is mention here of the possible patentability of organisms, but I cannot see a mention of cloned sheep, or of the patenting problems arising from the human genome project. In information‐providing terms CD‐ROM services have come in to use since the last edition, as has the Internet, and mention is made, for example, of the SatelLife Project for the satellite linking of health libraries in Africa. Much of the text, however, is still given to listing and describing printed journals and textbooks, under old‐fashioned looking headings such as “Parasitology,” “Zoology,” and even “Botany.” It is hard to imagine this as continuing in the next edition.

The authors have undoubtedly covered their subjects in exhaustive detail, though even they seem somewhat cynical about the value of the tools they have listed ‐ “the most frequent use of the Science Citation Index is to see how many times one’s own papers have been cited,” or, “Most guides to libraries are disappointing and of little use ... apart from addresses.” This is part of a well‐established book series, and obviously sells well enough to justify the publisher in regularly updating it. I can think of many people who would benefit from working their way through bits of it, but I cannot think of many who will actually bother to do so. All librarians dealing with the life sciences should look through this book, and all libraries dealing with the biological sciences should have a copy ready to hand in case anyone asks for it, but it will date very quickly.