Building a popular science library collection for high school to adult learners : issues and recommended resources

In response to the often-cited need to improve science literacy in the United States, this book examines how popular science information resources contribute to this goal and recommends nearly 2,500 significant titles—70 percent published since 1990—representing all fields of modern science. This guide provides librarians, educators, and other information specialists with an understanding of science literacy, as well as the knowledge of the skills and principles necessary to evaluate works of popular science. The annotated bibliographies are organized into nine subject areas and represent the body of current, significant popular literature for the entire discipline, including reference works, autobiography and biography, history of the discipline, and specific topics within the discipline. Nonprint resources are evaluated as well. This work will be valuable for collection development, making reference recommendations, and designing programmatic learning activities and is intended for public, high school, community college, and college and university librarians, as well as for science teachers. Librarians and information specialists must develop representative collections and be able to evaluate and recommend scientific information resources effectively. This work is unique in developing a unifying contextual background and linking popular science library collections to science literacy. Part One, Scientific Information, Popular Science, and Lifelong Learning, discusses historical and current issues related to popular science, science literacy, and information resources. Included is the most exhaustive discussion available of how to evaluate works of popular science. Part Two, Subject Guides to Popular Information Resources, is an annotated bibliography of 2,500 recommended print and nonprint works in general science, astronomy and space sciences, biological sciences, chemistry, mathematics, medicine and health sciences, natural history, physics, and technology and applied science. Each core entry contains a complete bibliographic citation, a 25-75 word descriptive and evaluative annotation, and a list of review sources. Annotations consider the resource's level of relevance, scope, comprehensibility, and uniqueness, and compare resources, especially the ways in which they complement or contrast with one another. Additional recommended titles contain a brief annotation. This book examines how popular science information resources contribute to the improvement of science literacy in the United States. Nearly 2,500 titles are recommended--70% published since 1990--representing all fields of modern science. This guide provides librarians, educators, and other information specialists with an understanding of science literacy, as well as the knowledge of the skills and principles necessary to evaluate works of popular science. Part 1 provides public, high school, and college librarians with a basic understanding of popular science information so that they can make better choices on behalf of their library patrons. The annotated bibliographies in part 2 are organized into nine subject areas, and represent the body of current popular literature for the entire discipline, including reference works, autobiography and biography, history of the discipline, and specific topics within the discipline. The bibliography recommends resources that could constitute a core science literacy collection. Subject areas include: general science; astronomy and space sciences; biological sciences; chemistry; mathematics; medicine and health sciences; natural history; physics; and technology and applied sciences. This work can be used for collection development, making reference recommendations, and designing programmatic learning activities and is intended for public, high school, community college, and college and university librarians, as well as for science teachers. Author, subject, and title indices and a list of book review source abbreviations are provided. (MAS) 'There is a communication gap between the scientists, who often fail or do not try to convey the nature and significance of their work to a broader audience, and the public at large, who do not understand science or are inattentive to issues and trends in science.' I say, 'AMEN!' (and I suspect the masses would concur). How to bridge that gap? I enthusiastically recommend Sapp's new book. Many librarians will recognize Sapp, head of access services at the University of Miami's Richter Library, as the author of Library Journal's annual 'Best Sci-Tech Books' article. Sapp has not only compiled an extensive subject bibliography to nearly 2500 print and nonprint popular science titles but has also provided a basis for understanding and evaluating popular science literature. He includes a variety of formats book, periodical, audiovisual, and CD-ROM. Each entry includes a bibliographic citation, a descriptive and evaluative annotation, and citations to additional reviews. Besides its wealth of information, Sapp's book is just plain good reading. The writing style and content are everything good popular science literature should be informative and entertaining. A must buy for all libraries. Janet Brewer, Murray State Univ. Lib., Ky.--LJ 06/15/1995