Submitted
December 9
The following list represents
the five books/websites, etc. I chose to evaluate from the Government Documents list:
1.) Official
Congressional Directory: 109th Congress
CITATION: Official Congressional
Directory: 109th Congress. (2005-2006). Washington, D.C.: GPO.
AUTHORITY: The fact that
it is an Official U.S. Government edition certifies its reliability.
FORMAT: A lengthy contents section clearly defines the format of the book.
In simple terms, the book is a directory of members of Congress. The first page is devoted to the Vice President of
the United States. Members of Congress are then indexed by state. Following this
section are state delegations, an alphabetical list of members of the Senate and House, a list of nine digit postal zip codes,
a directory of terms of service, multiple listing of committees and departments and press galleries. The end of the book features Congressional District maps and a name index.
The book is over 1,000 pages. Format varies depending on the section: some pages contain two columns of information, others only one. The text is small; however, the use of headings, bold text, capitalization, asterisks,
and spacing between paragraphs makes it easier to read.
ENTRIES: Like the format,
the actual entries vary. The majority of information is given in list form. Those entries that contain biographical information are written phrases, not complete
sentences. They contain the entrant’s party, birth date and location, education,
work experience (and dates), as well as any titles held.
OVERALL EVALUATION: This
book would be useful to have on hand at a public or academic library; however, it is not one that I would recommend for home
use, simply due to its subject matter. Published biannually, a new edition must
be purchased in order to stay current. That being said, it is useful for answering
ready reference questions if the patron is interested in searching for members of Congress in a specific year.
2.) Congressional
Quarterly Almanac Plus
CITATION: Congressional
Quarterly Almanac Plus. (2005). Washington, D.C.:
Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
AUTHORITY: This
book is the 61 edition of the series. According to information taken from one
of the first pages, Congressional Quarterly, Inc. is a “national leader in professional journalism.”
SCOPE: This edition
“covers the first session of the 109th Congress.” An overview
of the year is followed by seventeen chapters of narrative accounts of legislation.
Chapters are the result of analysis done throughout the year by the publication company’s news staff and are
written specifically for this book. An examination of all bills are given, regardless
of whether ort not they actually became a law.
FORMAT: Eighteen
total chapters: the first is an overview of the year, followed by chapters devoted to specific subjects within Congress. The book then contains several appendixes: Congress and its members, vote studies,
key votes, texts, public laws, and roll call votes (divided by House and Senate). It
concludes with a general index. (A second table of contents breaks down each
chapter and appendix into further detail.
The page format varies depending on the content
being discussed. Tables, charts, boxes, bulleting, and headers in varying shades
of black, white and grey make the book aesthetically pleasing and easy to read. The
number of columns per page genrally varies from two to three.
ENTRIES: Entries are written in complete sentences and paragraph form.
Furthermore, the language
is suitable for the average every-day user and easy to understand. A glossary
section is especially useful, as the definitions are kept as simple as possible.
OVERALL EVALUATION: I was very impressed with this book. It
was written in a language that was lot limited to those with a background in political science. The information was comprehensive and well organized. I would
highly recommend it for any library.
3.) The Book
of the States
CITATION: The Book of
the States. (2002). Lexington, KY:
The Council of State Governments.
AUTHORITY: The Council of
State Government’s mission is to “assist state leaders and managers in tracking emerging trends and issues.” This is the first edition since the decision to publish on annual basis was made (previously
it was published biannually), which ultimately will enhance its accuracy.
SCOPE: This edition has over twenty articles and two hundred tables and figures.
FORMAT: The introduction provides background information on emerging trends and issues in state government during
this year. The book has ten chapters and concludes with an index. The titles of the chapters reveal their content: state constitutions; federalism and intergovernmental
relations; state legislative branch; state executive branch; state judicial branch; state elections; state finance and census;
state management and administration; state policies and programs; and state pages. The
book is over five hundred pages. Two columns are on each page. Text pages are complimented by tables, charts, graphs, etc.
ENTRIES: Chapters open with
relevant quotations. Sections are divided by headings. The opening information is written in the form of a text book. Each
chapter ends with a conclusion, a list of notes and references, and an “about the author” section. Charts, tables, graphs, are included where appropriate.
OVERALL EVALUATION: This
book is interesting if the user is interested in reading about these topics in analysis form.
The subject matter covered, as well as the conclusions that are drawn, are subject to the author’s opinion. Therefore, I would advise users to read with a critical eye. The use of charts, tables, and graphs enhance the quality/usefulness of the book.
4.) Washington Information Directory, 2006-2007
CITATION: Washington Information Directory, 2006-2007. (2006). Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, a division of Congressional
Quarterly.
AUTHORITY: CQ Press is a
division of Congressional Quarterly, a “national leader in professional journalism.” In order to enhance the accuracy of the entries, each existing entry is researched on an annual basis,
prior to the publication of the newer edition. This information is obtained by
each organization via telephone and speaking to a member from the Washington
office. Similarly, editors work to ensure that the topics covered are new or
of renewed importance. Publishers invite feedback.
FORMAT: The preface is followed
by a “how to use this directory” section. The book is over 1,000
pages. Nineteen chapters, followed by a section devoted to the 109th
Congress and general “Ready Reference” as well as three indexes (name, organization, and subject) comprise the
book. There is also a page devoted to listing reference boxes and organization
charts. The first page of each chapter is a breakdown of specific subjects and
their page numbers within that chapter. Two columns are on each page. Sections are divided by bold headings and extra spacing. Flow
charts are used when appropriate.
ENTRIES: Entries are brief: address and contact information are provided first (in italics), followed by a one sentence
description/purpose. While the entries are organized by subject in a logical
manner, use of the indexes make for the easiest use. There are three ways to
search the index: name, organization, and subject.
OVERALL EVALUATION: I was impressed with the credibility of this source.
The preface clearly described the measures that were/are taken in order to ensure accuracy. While the book is not one that users would browse, the three extensive indexes (which is, in itself, over
one hundred pages long) make it easy to use. Similarly, the Ready Reference section
makes it a worthwhile investment for any library.
5.)
Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report
CITATION:
Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report. Washington, D.C.:
Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
*Users
can access the online version at Wheaton College.
AUTHORITY: CQ Weekly provides weekly updates
on the legislative body. THE CQ news team is comprised of over one hundred reporters,
editors, and researchers. According to the website, it is the preferred choice
of 95% of the members of Congress, the White House, federal agencies, the media, and thousands of leading businesses.
SCOPE: Each issue, in addition to containing
current reports, also contains information on previous reports and possible future reports.
The online version gives users access to articles dating back to 1983.
FORMAT: The main page has a contents section in the center. The left side margin lists a variety of other search methods, as well as an “about” section,
FAQ’s/help, and a “contact CQ” link. The limited use of color
(green, black and white) is effective in that the website is not bland, but not overpowered by excessive use of color. At the bottom of the main contents page is a list of editorials by contributing columnists.
ENTRIES: Articles contain author, publication
date, links to related topics, and pictures (when appropriate). The credibility and ease of understanding varies with each
article entry, as a number of different authors contribute the articles.
OVERALL EVALUATION: This site was easy to navigate.
The publishers are credible and the information seems reliable. The fact
that an online subscription enables users to access all articles since 1983 makes it a worthwhile investment for any library.
