Andrew's+Reference+Tool

The reference tool I am evaluating is the //Bibliography of British and Irish History// (Brepolis) online at: http://apps.brepolis.net/bbih/search.cfm? It is accessed through the UCD library’s catalogue. We are using this source as an abstracting type of reference tool as it provides a bibliographic list of titles but also a short listing of the title’s subject matter. The majority of the information below is drawn from the database's website. **Scope:** Containing 509,705 records so date the //Bibliography of British and Irish History// provides bibliographic data on historical writing dealing with the British Isles, and with the British Empire and Commonwealth, during all periods for which written documentation is available - from 55BC to the present. It is the successor to the //Royal Historical Society Bibliography of British and Irish History//, available online from 2002 to 2009. **Quality of Content:** The database lists books, articles in books and articles in journals. 705 journals and series are currently searched systematically for material relevant to the Bibliography. **Accuracy of Content:** Material from many other journals and series is included as and when it comes to light. A selection of electronic journals is included; in deciding whether or not to include electronic journals, the following criteria is taken into account: **Currency:** The database is regularly updated. While accessing it on 25/11/2011 I was notified that it was last updated 4/10/2011. **Authority of Author and/or Publisher:** A partnership between the Institute of Historical Research, the Royal Historical Society and Brepols Publishers. **Ease of Use:** The site is very easily navigatable. For instance, on the main search page I enter ‘1916 Easter Rising’. I return 708 sources on this subject. Next I click on one of the books: //The Rising: Easter 1916// by Fearghal McGarry and a bibliographic listing is given which also highlights the books contents and a ‘subject tree’. This resource allows the user to search the subject and then gather the details of the sources found in order to judge their applicability to the search.. **Arrangement of Material:** The material is arranged in a database that is searchable through a normal subject, author, title search or an advanced boolean search. **Appropriateness to the Audience:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This materaial is ideal for scholars of the 1916 Rising as it will provide an exhaustive resource of scholarly information. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Format:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Database <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Cost:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Institutional purchase
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Scholarly content;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Editorial board includes well-known scholars in the field or university staff;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Submissions are refereed by established scholars;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Published regularly, or with reasonable frequency;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Evidence of a policy for sustainability.