However, over the past decade, electronic resources have stolen the spotlight in library research. Selecting resources for research needs has focused on search engines, evaluating web pages, and effectively using electronic databases. Print resources are often a second thought. Most information seekers, especially students, opt for the most expedient solution to their needs rather than a more planned approach with quality and balance in mind.

Electronic resources are expensive, attractive to students, and require a great deal of time to teach for maximum utility. Making educated choices with what databases or search engine to use, and teaching students to effectively navigate them, leaves little time for librarians to steer the majority of students to valuable information in print form.

The best sources for gathering background information on a topic or for finding definitions of words in a particular field are often not in electronic format. For example, the FindLaw search engine offers a free legal dictionary (http://dictionary.lp.findlaw.com). This is helpful for the correct spelling of a word or a brief definition. However, Black’s Law Dictionary, a standard in the field, provides much lengthier definitions (Ref KF 156 .B53 1999). In addition, print resources allow a researcher to stumble upon other useful information by browsing pages and scanning bibliographies.

Following the ACRL standards for Information Literacy, print resources still have value for researchers and should be included in library research sessions along with their electronic counterparts. The challenge will be determining the right balance.

A sample of unique and current titles you will find in the Reference collection:

Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World [Ref. G1033 .B3 2000]

St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, 5 vols. [Ref. E169.1 .S764 2000]

American National Biography, 24 vols. [Ref. CT213 .A68 1999]
Note: This set supercedes the Dictionary of American Biography.

Encyclopedia of Buddhism, [Ref. BQ128 .E62 2004]

Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics [Ref. BJ63 .A66 1998]