Directories Sajjad ur Rehman

Directories Lists of persons and organizations, systematically arranged, complemented by indexes Information about contact and data about operations, service, programs, activities; contact information for organs, subsidiaries, officers

Use One of the most heavily consulted information sources Electronic format replaced the print Use depends on the nature of the library, its clientele and their needs

Criteria Scope Comprehensiveness Currency Accuracy Format –Indexes –Type –Presentation Availability modes User profile Question profile Cost

Phone and Directories Most crucial sources for finding information about individuals and organizations Most comprehensive and current available electronically through Internet Many services available free of charge Business and toll-free number directories

Library Directories American Library Directory –Biennial: –Annual: Scope: North America including Mexico Coverage: public, academic, government, law, medical, religious and special libraries Arrangement: geographical by state, city Content: name, address, staff size, financial information, holdings, networking, branches Indexes: organizations and personnel Availability: print, CD-ROM, Dialog file

Additional Library Directories World Guide to Libraries –Access information, name of director, holdings strengths, statistics; alphabetical index Directory of Special Libraries and Information Centers –Information identical to ALD –Arranged alphabetically with subject, geographic and personal indexes

Publishing and Book Trade Publishing Marketplace Reference Plus –Contains a number of sources on CD, which include: ALD, American Book Trade Directory, Literary Marketplace, International Literary Marketplace, :Publishers, Distributors, Wholesale Traders of the US (75 k agencies), The Bowker’s Annual Library Book Trade Almanac, and publishers’ volume of BIP

Educational Institutions World of Learning –Europa publication; annual; 2 volumes; covers universities, learned bodies, museums and art galleries, libraries, archives, etc. One of the most extensively used sources. International Handbook of Universities Commonwealth Universities Handbook College Bluebook Peterson’s Guide

Educational Directories on the Internet Yahoo and other directories: comprehensive, current, and accurate Institutional Web pages--the most reliable source Information about: academic programs, admission, faculty, research, sports, culture, news, etc.

Non-Government Organizations Encyclopedia of Associations –National organizations of USA (volume 1 in 3 parts) –International organizations (2 parts) –Covers 81,000 NGOs Professional societies, trade associations, labor unions, cultural and religious organizations, clubs, etc. –Dialog file 114

Business Directory Standard and Poor’s Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives –Annual, 100,000 North American and international companies covered with sales exceeding 1 million –3-volume work in print –Dialog file 527 Content: access, financial and marketing information, officers, etc. Information provided by companies

Industrial Products Thomas Register of American Manufacturers, covering Canada –Covers more than 168,000 products –Contains 8000 manufacturer catalogs –Print, CD, DVD, online options –Value added services of ordering and accounting –1 Million manufacturer drawings downloadable