American Library Association (ALA) Publishing announced in November the launch of the new online edition of Guide to Reference. Offering more than 16,000 essential print and Web reference resources, Guide to Reference provides guidance in the form of expert introductory essays and annotations for entries. It also offers tips for LIS reference-course exercises and reference department activities such as collection development and reference-desk training.

Guide to Reference is the first edition to list sources on the World Wide Web and the first to be issued in electronic form. It takes full advantage of the Web's capacities to connect information sources and create and link to content that will make it a center for learning about and practicing reference librarianship.

Distinctive features of the online edition of Guide to Reference include:
Ø A highly selective range of reference resources across key academic disciplines, including General Reference, History, Science, Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Sciences;
Ø Ability to edit, print, email and share records to create collection development lists and notes;
Ø Sophisticated browse and search capabilities to help pinpoint resources;
Ø Connectivity from Guide to Reference to WorldCat's Find in a Library Service
Ø Easy access via IP address to authorized users on the subscribing institution's campus or institutional network ]

Source: http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/november2008/PublishingRefGuide.cfm