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.
