Consumer Health Information Source Book » (6TH)

ALAN M. REES is professor emeritus of library and information science at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and has taught at the University of Toronto, State University of New York at Albany, and Kent State University.

The seventh edition of this comprehensive and authoritative guide provides more than 2,000 popular, publicly available health-information resources available in both print and electronic formats.

Madelyn G.P. Hall

This edition has surpassed the previous edition, including upgraded standards such as timeliness, authorship, and attribution. The editor is a well-respected medical information specialist. The book, as in earlier editions, is designed to "provide a comprehensive guide to popular health information." It achieves this by organizing the subject by very specific chapters, including consumer health publications (magazines, newsletters, etc.), consumer health books, computer-based information (CD-ROMs, etc.), and Internet sites. Each chapter is referenced. The intended audience is librarians working in reference and collection development, health care educators, and other professionals such as booksellers. For librarians and others who are beginning a consumer health collection, this book is an especially invaluable tool. The first chapter, "Medical Consumerism in the Age of Managed Care," discusses today's healthcare climate as well as future trends. With some guidance, the general public can use this book too. The preface and the table of contents are sufficiently detailed to help the reader understand the format and depth of the material. Although the print is dense, there is good use of white space and bold text to delineate sections. There are three indexes with listings by author, title, and subject. Those acquainted with previous editions will welcome the chapter on Internet sites, which includes discussion of consumer health on the Internet, well-established web sites, and a glossary of terms. To lend further credibility, referenced journal articles substantiate the editor's views. The annotated bibliography comprises the bulk of the book. It even provides all theinformation needed for purchase of any of the publications noted. Certainly every medical librarian will want a copy on the ready reference shelf, as this book will be reached for again and again.