[Genealib] Seek opinions of a book for librarians

[Barbara Hill]

Dear List,

According to WorldCat, a couple of hundred libraries own a copy of 
"The librarian's guide to genealogical services and research" by 
James Swan (2004 edition), published by Neal-Schuman.  The nearest 
one to me is in the Reference section of the Oakland Public Library 
(Calif.) and I have not yet managed to get there to look at it.  I do 
have an ILL request in for a circulating copy of the 1998 version of 
this title, but the 2004 edition includes a CD-ROM.

My questions for list subscribers:

Does anyone who has this title in their collection use it on a 
regular basis?  Is it helpful?  Are there other titles covering the 
same material which you use more often?

Do you think it would be worth purchasing (for the list price of $75) 
for a genealogical society library?  (My library committee members 
are balking at the price and want me to justify it.  But I come from 
a work environment in which science books costing hundreds of dollars 
are purchased without so much as a second thought.)

I have searched in vain for adequate reviews of this title, and the 
information I have found is not consistent as regards what is on the 
CD vs. what is in the printed book.  Some of the checklists sound 
unique and worthwhile, especially if they can be printed and handed 
out to patrons, and I am curious about the chapter on "Building the 
Genealogical Collection."

All opinions welcome.  Please reply to me off-list, unless you are so 
enthusiastic that you think other list subscribers should buy it, or 
so un-enthusiastic that you think other list subscribers should avoid it.

THANK YOU!

Barbara Hill   <bhill at calmail.berkeley.edu>
Library Committee Member
California Genealogical Society