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.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Although not a reference book in the strict sense, Katz's survey of the evolution of reference sources through the ages is fascinating reading for anyone interested in this aspect of library science. Organizing his discussion under the usual reference source types--encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, atlases, and so on--Katz demonstrates how "the history of reference books parallels both intellectual and technological developments from those first cuneiform tablets and papyrus rolls to the present-day digital databases."
Review
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... (C&Rl News )
Katz's way with words is apparent throughout...an illuminating and readable book. (Choice )
...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 )
Katz's way with words is apparent throughout...an illuminating and readable book. (Choice )
...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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