Resource Review #8: Credo Reference--The Dominator

When I accessed the Credo Reference resource through UW-Madison today, I found no irony in the first "Featured Content" term: Afghanistan. Upon choosing to view the reference materials related to Afghanistan and its history, I found the search results offered a glimpse into a country the whole world may be watching right now, especially through the view of news broadcasts. Wanting to then learn more about the history of "news broadcasting", I typed in that phrase and discovered a list of definitions, articles, speeches...you name it. The further I delved, the more I began to believe that Credo Reference really does have it all. But do they have competition or are they a reference monopoly?

In the UW-Madison Library catalog*, there are a total of eight "Introductory Resources", including Credo Reference. Of the eight, only one seems to be remotely close to the comprehensiveness of Credo: Oxford Reference Online. However, the quantity of its reference resources pale in comparison to the behemoth that is the Credo Reference 'collection'. I decided to try a little experiment. Having previewed the results for the search term "Afghanistan", I went over to Oxford Reference Online and entered the same search term. Though the search resulted in fewer results (37 vs. Credo's 1412), I found Oxford's interface and results list were easier to work with and browse: it all felt so much tidier. Plus, the results list began with a quick definition which I think would be beneficial to those who need just a quick reference service; scrolling down Credo's list of entries could certainly be time-consuming. However, quantity seems to be king sometimes. So, it seem Credo does dominate the reference world and they are not afraid to publicize and promote themselves. They even offer discounts to their subscriptions for certain institutions, which could be extremely helpful for interested academic libraries concerned with the subscription cost which ranges from $1650 to over $7000 (LaGuardia, C. Credo Reference. Library Journal, Vol. 134, no. 3, 2009: 130.)

In addition to continually adding reference resources, Credo is also contributing to cataloging by adding MARC records to WorldCat. Each time a resource is added to the WorldCat catalog, Credo will be identified as the vendor in one of the MARC record fields, thus allowing people to actually search by vendor. And down the Credo rabbit hole they will fall into the vastness of Credo's resources and capabilities as an online reference tool. In addition to being behind the cataloging scene, Credo has also provided a document about the back-end aspect of their database and how XML powers the multiple aspects of the Credo Reference interface.

The previous blog posts devoted to reviewing the Credo Reference resource addressed various issues related to searchability, contents, usability, reference interviews, and social networking.

One of the major conclusions I have reached during the course of my research, and that which has also been addressed in various reviews, is that Credo Reference is a useful tool for people who are trying to understand a concept or topic on multiple levels. The numerous resources Credo offers run the gamut in providing any number of possible contexts in which to develop an understanding. Information-seeking has extended beyond consulting reference professionals or searching through tangible reference sources: the online environment is the hotbed of information exchanges and access points. And, as older generations learn to adapt and keep up with the speed-of-light changes in technology and communication, newer generations should be aware of how information and access to it has evolved, even just in the last two decades. That being said, I think the following quote reiterates the state of information studies now and how Credo Reference is playing its part:

"Students doing research work in academic libraries face a conundrum when a Google or Wikipedia search is regarded as the limit of scholarly investigation. To the Google generation, the index of a book is like a Paleolithic Era cave painting. They want a little window with the search button next to it. Credo Reference offers a solution by allowing users to search many authoritative reference works with a single tool. The idea behind Credo Reference is that users get the familiar search engine window but search hundreds of authoritative scholarly reference works including dictionaries and encyclopaedias. Not only will they find information that is reliable and referenceable but it is likely to be from publications they would never have thought to look in."

(Murphy, John. Reference Tool Helps Organise Scholarly Resources. Research Information, No. 41, 2009: 25.)

*There are over 230 reference resources in the UW system, most of which are subject-specific.

Resource Review #7: Credo to the Rescue

I got a chuckle out of the reference interview described in QuestionPoint: 24/7 Reference Services "Quality Tip: Credo Reference" advocating the usefulness of Credo Reference to "provide targeted information from authoritative sources". The reference interview described involved the reference provider answering a 'yes/no' reference question for a patron and also providing the source's citation. Part of me wondered if researchers could cite resources they didn't actually have access to, as Credo Reference subscriptions are unique to their participating institutions, or if they didn't actually discover the resource themselves i.e. a virtual reference provider found the source. Another part of me wondered about the process the reference librarian went through to find the answer: did s/he type in keywords (e.g. civil war) and then chose the first result or scrolled through a few? Why didn't the reference provider explain that? Having recently done research about virtual reference interviews, I feel reference providers should 'explain' how they found their information and offer suggestions more than just conclusions: even if it is a yes/no question, I believe patrons would benefit from knowing how the reference provider started their search.

My own experience with keyword searching in Credo made me grateful to be a student in a Library and Information Studies program because I have learned through my coursework the various nuances of information seeking and the tools and technologies we use to access the information. Credo has A LOT of content and sources. A broad term keyword search would probably result in various entries that may not have anything to do with the information-seeking goal. So, I'll give a kudos to Credo for their features that allow a researcher to narrow the focus of the search and their concept maps (I am a visual learner and I like maps...)

Resource Review #6: The Bermuda Triangle of Reference Resources

Just over a month ago, Sue Polanka (authoress of the No Shelf Required blog) posted a Credo Reference press release about the variety of titles they added since the release of their new platform last year, thus "raising the standard for how online reference services should work for libraries." Utilizing suggestions from people interested or subscribed to Credo as well as polling academic representatives i.e. librarians and educators, they chose titles that would best serve their user community and highlight interdisciplinary subjects of interest to researchers. Looking at the list and having occasionally perused Credo Reference, I can understand why they are a driving force in online reference service. They've got it all and so can their subscribers, depending on how much they are willing to shell out for their subscription.

The vast amount of reference materials available through Credo continually overwhelms my imagination because I try to visualize how much physical space those resources would require. As a library student who is focusing on archives and works with textiles, my bias veers towards physical objects despite the directional shift of all three fields towards the digital realm. Though I fully utilize and require access to digital resources, my loyalties remain with tangible objects. They are perceptionally stimulating and viscerally engage my attention and imagination. However, they all need a place and space in which to be stored. Which, if any, libraries or repositories would or could offer Credo's titles in tangible form for their patrons to access? Not only that, but how on earth could one simply browse the material or pinpoint exactly what s/he is looking for? Therein lies the rub of the convenience and advantage to online resources: all you have to do is type in what you're looking for and voila! you're presented with every- and anything relevant to those keywords. After that, just pick and choose which results are most appropriate for your information needs.

I have no doubts that tangible reference resources, archival collections, and textile collections will always have a home and caretakers--I plan to become one. However, information has expanded out beyond a physical state and is being bred in the digital arena. It is now common practice that we all search the vast oceans of online information, being propelled by search engines, being navigated by databases with hopes that they recognize our descriptors to find appropriate matches, and trusting someone will be there or offer suggestions to steer us in the right direction if we stray. And as we explore the great beyond containing virtual information resources, the physical resources from which they came slowly disappear and the brick and mortar repositories fade into the background to exist as a fulcrum between the two worlds...

Resource Review #5: Credo is on the Faceplace

Despite my personal opinions about social networking, I am willing to appreciate the value and usefulness of these Web communiques. Contrary to what I casually mentioned during a brief class presentation about Credo Reference, they do have a presence on Facebook and over 200 fans (vs. friends--I appreciate this non-committal acquaintanceship). In a previous post, I admitted how much I do enjoy a good trivia "session" and I am looking forward to trying the Friday Brainteaser (homework first though).

Credo's Facebook wall is essentially a series of daily trivia questions based on an image or quotation with its fans providing the answers and Credo confirming them. The funny part is that some of Credo's replies mention how quick they were to correctly answer the question, some even going so far as to site the source of their information (this is why reference librarians rock: they are thorough)

Credo's wall represents virtual reference for the masses in the Web 2.0 environment; particularly for an audience of anyone who, like myself, appreciates knowledge and those "I didn't know that" moments. The questions are challenging (for me, at least) and often have that this-day-in-history vibe to them which is a great way to cull recollection and thought provocation from those who view the Credo wall. Good show!

Resource Review #4: More Food for Thought-- A Dash of Twitter

#QOD "Do you know what breakfast cereal is made of? It's made of all those little curly wooden shavings you find in pencil sharpeners!" Dahl

Twitter...what an unusual word and phenomenon. Its Wikipedia definition states it is a "social networking and micro blogging service" that sends out messages, a' la SMS text through a Web interface wherein the participating public can read and reply. Perhaps the reason my interpretation may seem vague or inaccurate is rooted in the fact that I don't "Tweet". It makes me think of a stereotypical Looney Tunes character. In fact, the whole thing smacks of a very narcissistic cartoon character. But, then again, here I am blogging...

So why would a reputable "multi-publisher online reference platform found in libraries all over the world" use Twitter? Is the Credo Reference crew trying to share knowledge, participate in the hippest trends in order to connect with multiple, digital generations, a combination of both, or some other reason? Having read through some of the public and entertainment tweets, I sense a need some people feel to just say whatever goes through their head, but why? Is there value to his? Is it useful? To whom?

However, the Credo Reference Tweets are actually rather fun and informative, albeit in the random way. For example, did you know that October 15th is October Horse Sacrifice? Or that October 16th is World Food Day? How about the month of October being Potato Days? Kudos to Credo for being hip, funny and educational in the Web 2.0 arena of individual advertisement and exposure to make sure we actually learn something.

Resource Review #3: No Gaol Fun For Us

An article posted online in September 2009 mentions "five key reference titles in the UK law, criminal justice, policing and forensic psychology following an agreement with Willan Publishing, the UK-based specialist in law and criminology for students, academics and practitioners" that Credo Reference added to their collection.

I was excited to peruse some of the new titles despite and due to my lack of knowledge about UK law. However, upon entering Credo via UW-Madison's library-database page, none of the titles were included in the reference resources I could search. After searching for about ten minutes, I began to look for some history on Credo (and its formerly-known-as-name xrefer) but, once again, struggled to find the what-I-thought-would-be-basic information. As a library school student, this makes me feel inadequate or slightly ignorant.

So, the assumptions start flying and I'm left wondering if the customization available for Credo subscribers directly relates to the titles they can "have". I'm guessing the costs of those resources were too much to justify adding them as US law students may not utilize international/UK law reference resources all that often. The UW Law Library does have an extensive amount of resources, but titles like those mentioned in the article seem to be great ready-reference titles.

Resource Review #2: And so it begins...

October has arrived and that means a few things to Wisconsin folk and students:

• Autumnal foliage and scents enliven the senses
• Multiple projects and papers are due

That being said, I am in full swing research mode for my literature reviews. One of the big projects involves textiles and their creators. So, I went to the ever-useful Credo Reference and embarked on my first official search today. In the Search box, I typed in the word "textiles". Here's how it broke down:

• 5275 results in All Subjects
• 489 results in Art
• 4 results in Business
• 81 results in Biographies
• 58 results in Dictionaries
• 2842 results in Encyclopedias
• 2 results in Food & Beverages
• 1226 results in Geography
• 3 results in Languages
• 15 results in Law
• 1 result in Literature
• 8 results in Medicine
• 0 results in Music
• 0 results in Philosophy
• 0 results in Psychology
• 0 results in Quotations
• 2 results in Religion
• 436 results in Science
• 2 results in Social Sciences
• 0 results in Technology

I was surprised by some of the results, both positively and negatively, and had a few user comments. First of all, I appreciated that each result provided a sentence with the keyword highlighted (great for establishing context: determining whether or not that resource would be helpful). Secondly, I could narrow my search in the sidebar, which worked wonderfully with the previously mentioned context building strategy. The ways in which a search could be narrowed were by utilizing related entries, related resources, adjacent entries, and book browsing. However, I found it frustrating and tedious that I had to continually use the "back" button to return to the results list upon viewing a result (i.e. there was no "return to results" link).

Additional search options were possible in other databases (via Credo):

• 47,868 results in JSTOR
• 8208 results in PubMed
• 77,144 results in WorldCat
• 2151 results in MadCat

When I did an Image Search with "textiles" I got 582 results, most of which were relative to countries that produce textiles (their flag and geographical location were the images) or pictures of textiles (Art reference resources). The Concept Search with "textiles" was, simply put, pretty awesome. Some of the relative concepts are going to be great launch points, so that feature will probably be a place I start for future research, especially with such a broad term like textiles.

Overall, Credo Reference will be extremely useful when I need definitions, context, or history on just about any subject. Yet, I know that I will need to use it in conjunction with at least two other databases (JSTOR and Oxford Art Online). That being said, I have a good feeling my resources will be busting at the seams.

Resource Review #1: Credontials

As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I fully understand the privileges we have through our library system and the databases to which it subscribes. Credo Reference, like most other aggregate reference databases, is surely costly. On our "search" page, it boasts to contain over 1.4 million full text entries (as of today) in 101 reference books. However, the public domain/website claims there are over 3.2 million entries, from 440 titles. Perhaps UW's subscription is "universityalized"contains reference sources most useful/relevant to the academic programs most likely to use the database...

But that certainly does not diminish the wide range of subjects and resources this reference tool encompasses: art, bilingual dictionaries, biographies, business, dictionaries, encyclopedias, food & beverage, geography, history, language, law, literature, medicine, music, philosophy, psychology, quotations, religion, science, social sciences, and technology. Though I was instantly excited about the food & beverage subject, I was somewhat dismayed that there did not seem to be any resources dedicated to textile studies (a field I am currently researching and a discipline towards which I plan on focusing my archival education). Having explored the Oxford Art Online reference source, to which we also subscribe, I know I can find some textile-related information there. A disclaimer to anyone with insight: I do not have a background in art or art history, which textiles and design studies are often (and rightfully) grouped with. Therefore, I feel I often have to do extra research just to understand some of the contextual arenas in which textiles are presented.

I digress...

Searching Credo Reference (formerly known as Xrefer, Ltd.) is nice and easy with all sorts of bells and whistles that are presented in a user-friendly way. Searching can be done by first choosing a subject, reference source type, or just entering a key word to be searched in all subjects. In addition to searching for terms, images and concepts can be searched. One can Find A Book by subject, title, type, Dewey Classification, or Library of Congress subjects/systems. I randomly chose a title that caught my eye, Rawson's Wicked Words and entered an EXTREMELY informative resource that provides definitions and uses for the more "colorful" words in our English colloquialisms; its readership is defined as "anyone who needs a put-down or insult".

Advanced searching is similar to other databases in that one can limit the ways in which to search. The concept map was something I cannot say I've ever seen before: one types in a term and a diagram is created with various synonymous or relative terms/concepts (anything goes here, though the relationships may not initially make sense--the algorithm obviously works off of the root word. Try "martini").

Another fun feature is the "Gadgets" toolbar on the right side. One enters a term in any of the designated boxes:

• Define
• Person
• Images
• Pronunciations
• Crossword
• Quotations
• Holidays & Festivals
• Conversions (area, distance, energy, fuel consumption, temperature, power, speed, volume, weight)-with a decimal precision up to 6 points that can be expanded.

I was slightly perplexed that "Halloween" in the "Holidays & Festivals" box yielded nothing.

C'est la vie!

Resource Review # 1/2: Everybody's Thinking for the Weekend

For the purposes of class projects and to overcome my unfamiliarity with the Web 2.0 arena, I have recently entered the realm of web-based communities. As of late, I have been watching the Credo Reference blog, largely in part to explore the rich information resource that is Credo Reference.

Much to my delight, I discovered the Friday Brain Teasers. Each week offers a short and sweet list of question that focus on different themes ranging from "General Knowledge" to "Words that start with the letters P-E-N". Unlike my preferred puzzle of choice (crossword), Brain Teasers go outside the box(es) and inspire me to search the long-term, often long-lost vaults of memory--truly a relaxing way to end a week of work and studies.

I Heart New York

Remember to never forget.

Food for Thought

Potatoes: What aren't they good for?