Like its predecessors, RCL has a variety of uses: it is consulted by accrediting agencies, by colleges adapting to new curricula, and by librarians weeding collections but wanting to insure retention of essential works.
RCL improves on earlier editions in a number of significant ways. It covers electronic resources as well as books. While Books for College Libraries was published in six volumes, RCL exists primarily as a Web-based product. In order to avoid the problems of obsolescence inherent in a print reference source, RCL’s online version will be continuously revised and updated after its first appearance. The contents are organized by a revised subject taxonomy, including appropriate interdisciplinary subject headings to reflect changes in higher education curricula since 1988.
RCL is the product of the collaborative efforts of members of the Choice editorial staff and more than 350 contributors recruited from the teaching faculty and libraries of colleges and universities throughout North America. RCL’s online edition (RCLweb) debuted on September 29, 2006, was revised in the fall of 2007, and will be revised again annually to keep the work current. The seven-volume print edition was published in late November, 2006. For additional information please visit http://www.rclinfo.net/ or contact Marcus Elmore at melmore@ala-choice.org.