Top reference titles named to RUSA’s 2012 Outstanding Reference Sources list

DALLAS — The most noteworthy reference titles published in 2011 have been named to the 2012 Outstanding Reference Sources list, an annual award offered by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA).

Sponsored by RUSA’s Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES), the Outstanding Reference Sources award, established in 1958, recommends and celebrates the most outstanding reference publications for small and medium-sized public and academic libraries.

The winners this year were selected by the Outstanding Reference Sources committee. Its members include Patrick Wall, chairperson, University City Public Library, University City, Mo.; Patricia Gregory, incoming chairperson, St. Louis University, St. Louis; Elinor Appel, North Seattle Community College, Seattle, Wash.; Cynthia Dudenhoffer, Central Methodist University, Fayette, Mo.; Chaunacey Dunklee, Fullerton Public Library, Fullerton, Calif.; Curtis Ferree, Fairfield University Library, Fairfield, Conn.; Emily Keller, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.; and Stephen Marvin, West Chester University, West Chester, Pa.

The 2011 winners are:

"The Encyclopedia of Political Science," George T Kurian editor-in-chief, published by CQ Press, 9781933116440

"The Civil War Naval Encyclopedia," edited by Spencer Tucker, published by ABC-CLIO, 9781598843385

"Competing Voices from the Russian Revolution: Fighting Words," edited by Michael Hickey, published by Greenwood, 9780313385230

"The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible," edited by Michael D. Coogan, published by Oxford University Press, 9780195377378

"Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites," by Donald B. Kraybill, published by The Johns Hopkins University Press, 9780801896576

"The Polish American Encyclopedia." edited by James S. Pula, published by McFarland & Company, Inc., 9780786433087

"Green's Dictionary of Slang," by Jonathan Green, published by Oxford University Press, 9780550104403

"Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine," edited by Lyle J. Micheli, published by Sage Publications, 9781412961158

"The Encyclopedia of Literary and Cultural Theory," Michael Ryan, general editor, published by Wiley-Blackwell, 9781405183123

"The Homer Encyclopedia," edited by Margalit Finkelberg, published by Wiley-Blackwell, 9781405177689

"The Grove Encyclopedia of American Art," edited by Joan D. Marter, published by Oxford University Press, 9780195335798

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Not a member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, preconferences and other events? Join, renew or add RUSA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership. Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.