Criminal Justice Research in Libraries and on the Internet (Bibliographies & Indexes in Library & Information Science) [Hardcover]

Bonnie R. Nelson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313300488 | ISBN-13: 978-0313300486 | Publication Date: September 30, 1997 | Edition: Rev Sub

Library research has changed dramatically since Marilyn Lutzker and Eleanor Ferrall's Criminal Justice Research in Libraries was published in 1986. In addition to covering the enduring elements of traditional research, this new edition provides full coverage of research using the World Wide Web, hypertext documents, computer indexes, and other online resources. It gives an in-depth explanation of such concepts as databases, networks, and full text, and the Internet gets a full chapter. The chapters on bibliographic searching, the library catalog, and comparative research are almost totally new, and chapters on indexes and abstracts, newsletters, newspapers and news broadcasts, documents, reports and conference proceedings, and statistics reflect the shift to computerized sources. The chapter on legal resources discusses the wealth of legal information available on the Internet. A new chapter on library research in forensic science corrects an omission from the first book. With the growth of computerized indexes and the Internet, more and more researchers are admitting that they feel inadequate to the new tools. Librarians themselves are struggling to keep abreast of the new technology. This book will help students, practitioners, scholars, and librarians develop a sense of competency in doing criminal justice research.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Professor Nelson has done an outstanding job of revising Lutzker and Ferrall's Criminal Justice Research in Libraries: Strategies and Resources (Greenwood, 1986) to reflect the changes in research methods that have occurred over the past 11 years. She skillfully integrates online, CD-ROM, and Web resources into the original organizational structure, so that the reader truly understands that what is important is the content, not the format, of the information.

The first part of the research guide, "Before You Start," discusses scholarly communication and information flow, offers advice on how to develop a research plan, and explains the basics of bibliographic and Internet searching, including the use of Boolean logic. Students will find the discussion of the distinctions between primary and secondary sources and popular, scholarly, and professional literature particularly useful. Part 2, "Locating Information," devotes chapters to each of the following: the library catalog; encyclopedias, dictionaries, and annual reviews; indexes and abstracts; newsletters, newspapers, and news broadcasts; documents, reports, and conference proceedings; statistics; and printed bibliographies. Novice researchers will find the introductory text in each chapter a helpful explanation of when to use a particular form of information and how to use it most effectively. For topics such as state documents, where the range of publications and their accessibility vary greatly, the author offers good practical advice, including visiting state libraries. Individual titles and Internet sites were thoughtfully selected, resulting in a comprehensive treatment of the subject that does not leave the reader overwhelmed. Entries include analytical and, often, evaluative annotations. Nelson's choices also succeed in reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of criminal justice research.

Occasionally, omissions are made in the range of access modes listed for particular titles. For example, Nelson does not indicate that Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report is available electronically through Washington Alert and InfoTrac SearchBank or that PsycINFO is available from the latter source. But most entries include a comprehensive list of access options. Part 3, "Some Special Problems," updates three chapters from Lutzker and Ferrall's book. Major revisions were made to the chapter dealing with legal resources to reflect the important role commercial online systems and, increasingly, free Internet sources play in today's legal environment. The chapter on the study of criminal justice in other countries was likewise updated to reflect the myriad Internet sources that enrich research in this area. The chapter "Historical Research with Primary Sources: Nineteenth-Century America" remains much the same as it was in Lutzker and Ferrall's work. Katherine Killoran contributed a new chapter, "Research in Forensic Science," which gives an overview of the basic information sources in this fascinating field. Appendixes include selected lists of Library of Congress subject headings in criminal justice, an annotated list of useful directories, and a list and description of major criminal justice reports. A glossary provides definitions of terms related to electronic searching. There are three separate indexes: an author/title index, an Internet resources index, and a subject index.

Academic and special libraries that support criminal justice programs and research will find this book indispensable. Librarians charged with collection development responsibility for this area will consider it a "must" purchase.

Review

“Professor Nelson has done an outstanding job of revising Lutzker and Ferrall's Criminal Justice Research in Libraries: Strategies and Resources to reflect the changes in research methods that have occurred over the past 11 years. She skillfully integrates online, CD-ROM, and Web resources into the original organizational structure, so that the reader truly understands that what is important is the content, not the format, of the information....Academic and special libraries that support criminal justice programs and research will find this book indispensable. Librarians charged with collection development responsibility for this area will consider it a "must" purchase.”–Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

“This excellent guide on how to do criminal justice research has both extensive information on the research process and thorough coverage of reference sources in criminal justice and related fields.... While this guide is written for academic or professional use, the source lists will be beneficial for collection development as well.”–Library Journal

“A decade ago Nelson and her collaborator created the basic guide for students and researchers who need to master the criminal justice reference literature; this update and expansion of that guide renews its vitality and value.”–Rettig on Reference

“The book does indeed offer a lot of information on criminal justice research and is highly recommended.”–ARBA

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; Rev Sub edition (September 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313300488
• ISBN-13: 978-0313300486
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,317,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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