Aoife's+Reference+Tool

**__Reference tool evaluation: Directory__** **Scope:** This directory is a thorough and comprehensive guide to Ireland in 1916. There is a lot of information contained within the directory. Not all of the information contained within would be directly relevant to the 1916 Rising, however there is also much that would be extremely helpful and interesting. An example of this is the information on the streets and various places in Ireland. This would be helpful when reading about where various parts of the Rising took place.

**Quality of Content:** The content is comprehensive and relevant to the time period we are concerned with. The information was published almost immediately after the events in it occurred and the research in it was carried out. This makes it contemporary to 1916 and therefore extremely relevant.

**Accuracy of Content:** Due to the volume of information contained within the directory, this is a difficult question. Thom’s Directory is considered a reputable source by librarians and there are holdings of it in many collections. It must be remembered however that there could be additions or omissions, depending on various factors, such as political bias.

**Currency:** As this is a directory of 1916, in today’s terms it is not current. However, because the collection deals with events of 1916, this would be an excellent resource to include and the fact that it was published almost one hundred years ago could in this case be of great benefit.

**Authority of Author and/ or Publisher:** The publisher is Alex. Thom & Co. (Limited) in Dublin. Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory was first published in 1844. The intention was "providing a reference book on almost all subjects of public interest". It can be taken as an extremely authoritative and comprehensive resource of contemporary information in 1916. Source: GOULD Genealogy and History website. Retrieved on 9th November, from http://www.gould.com.au/Thom-s-Directory-Great-Britain-Ireland-1914-p/bra026.htm

**Ease of Use:** It has a clear index and is divided into sections and sub- sections for ease of use. Due to the large scope of the directory however, the writing is reasonably dense and the book itself is quite bulky. While these factors make it slightly more difficult to use, it should still be included in the collection as it has so much information to offer.

**Arrangement of material:** The material is arranged as per the contents summary laid out at the beginning of the directory. It begins with the calendar for 1916 and finishes with the Post Office Dublin City and Council directory. This makes the arrangement quite clear, as well the fact that the summary provides the reader with a good overview of how the directory is arranged.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Appropriateness to Audience:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is a directory with an old fashioned layout and an older style of writing which may mean that not all patrons will want to use it. The content is appropriate for adults with an interest in this topic; however it seems too detailed for children. It is appropriate for the collection, although the dense writing and large amount of content would not make it child friendly.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Format:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is a print book with over two thousand pages.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Cost:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cost for a Thom’s Directory of 1916 is difficult to estimate. Some academic libraries hold copies, which can be viewed. According to Thom’s Publishing Company, they would otherwise have to be purchased at a specialist auction.