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The article looks into the relevance of print directories in historical research in the age of information technology. Significantly, old print directories are still relevant in historical research since historians regularly use city directories to study the physical movement and social and economic status of individuals and groups. Furthermore, the end of access to historical sources must have profound consequences for those seeking to understand the present. The author cited several registers and directories that are still relevant in historical studies such as the old editions of the "Thomas Register." On the other hand, most libraries are reliant on online databases. The author suggested the following print subscriptions and retentions for a core directory collection: city directories, media directories, serials directories, book publishers and books, and among others.

The article looks at the publication of reference materials through digital media. Topics include the co-existence of print and electronic reference materials, budget cuts at libraries, grammar guides about the fundamentals of writing, education reference materials for college students, and reference books on humorous topics. INSETS: So You Didn't Win The Lottery;Be a Good Sport.

The article comments on the resilience of print reference, despite the growing popularity of electronic resources. Ask reference publishers how their print titles are holding up in the age of Google and thriving electronic databases, and you will usually hear, "They are going strong." Judging from the number of reference books that arrive at LJ's offices each week, print reference is still being heavily published. Yes, e-resources, web-based in particular, are here to stay. But, as this ninth LJ Reference Supplement shows, print reference is not dead yet. According to LJ's most recent academic reference survey, conducted jointly with Trendwatch Graphic Arts in fall/winter 2003, academic libraries spend over 25 percent more on electronic reference than they did three years ago, largely because most students prefer the flexibility that comes with doing research online. Nevertheless, academic libraries still spend slightly more on print reference than they did three years ago. Print remains entrenched in public libraries as well. Last year's public library reference survey revealed that while libraries allocated more money for web-based products in 2003, they still reserved a whopping 72 percent of the reference budget for print. The listings in this supplement attest to the strength of print as well: boasting over 1200 titles from 281 publishers, they consist largely of print volumes of every conceivable size. The consensus, then, remains unchanged: when it comes to reference needs, librarians don't want a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, like the patrons they serve, they want flexibility and value.

This article presents an editorial commenting on criterion for judging reference materials. The author criticizes reference sets considered to be classics because they are often too big, too expensive, and too scholarly. The author presents his own criteria for a good reference, including accuracy of information, accessibility of the text to librarians and patrons, and whether or not the text is readable enough for patrons to understand it.

The article explores the use of traditional paper versus electronic reading materials by librarians, with particular focus on library reference books. Several librarians discuss their favorite reference materials and products, including digital resources to improve workflow management, printed cataloging references, and Internet searching on medical research topics.