RUSA announces full-text reference reviews online

Contact: Donavan Vicha


312-280-4397


dvicha@ala.org

ALA News Release


For Immediate Release


February 2001

RUSA announces full-text reference reviews online

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) Web site now offers a database of full-text reviews to its members. Using reviews from 1998 to the present from the "Sources" column of
Reference and User Services Quarterly (
RUSQ) (ISSN 1094-9054), the
RUSQ Sources Internet Database Web site
(http://www.ala.org/rusa/membersonly.html) is the first members-exclusive service offered by RUSA.

By entering a username/login and password, RUSA members can have access to almost 400 full-text reviews that have been published in
RUSQ. The database is searchable via subject, author, title, year, ISBN and type (database, reference or professional materials). Due to the lead-time between edited final copy and publication, the "Sources" Web site can provide review information weeks before the journal is received by members.

Editors Danny Wallace and Connie Van Fleet offered these comments, "We are excited by the opportunity to respond to RUSA's initiatives to enhance membership services. Offering the 'Sources' columns in both print and online format combines the best of both worlds, allowing members to take advantage of quicker availability and convenience features of the Web version and the serendipity of the print copy."

The
RUSQ Web site provides publication information for all the reference works reviewed in its "Sources" columns over the past four years, as well as abstracts of articles, indexes to volumes and complete texts of award-winning articles. All of these features are available to anyone with a browser.

The print journal also includes articles and columns exploring what is state of the art in accessibility, ready reference, readers' advisory, use of databases and bibliographies. The journal is available as a member benefit or as a subscription. Subscription to nonmembers in the United States is $50; Canada and Mexico, $55; and all other countries, $60.

The software to enable this service was made available through a generous donation from Microsoft.

RUSA is a division of the American Library Association.