Directories 37the names of key staff members and descriptions of collections in addi-
tion to basic directory-type information. The American Library Directory: A
Classified List of Libraries in the United States and Canada, with Personnel and
Statistical Data supplies that and more, including listings of library schools,
systems, networks, and consortia. Aca-
demic, public, and special libraries are
listed geographically, starting with state
or province, then city, then institution.
Gale’s Directory of Special Libraries and
Information Centers supplies useful con-
tact information for specialized subject
collections around the world. Volume 2
of this work is entitled Geographic and
Personnel Indexes, and there is now also
a Subject Directory of Special Libraries and
Information Centers in 3 volumes. These
directories are also part of the online Gale Directory Library. On the Web,
Libweb (http://lists .webjunction.org/libweb/) provides links to “over 7,900
pages from libraries in 146 countries.”
Another frequently asked-for type of information concerns publications
of various kinds. Library patrons may want to write letters to editors, request
back copies of magazines or newspapers, or order subscriptions. People pur-
chasing books may need to verify authors, titles, publishers, or ISBN numbers.
The Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media (146th edition), formerly
known as the Ayer Directory of Publications, is a standard reference work that
supplies listings of radio stations, magazines, newspapers, and other publica-
tions in the United States and Canada. Entries are arranged geographically and
include contact information, circulation figures, and more. It has a number of
special indexes, including those by subject and type of publication as well as
a master index. It is available online in the Gale Directory Library.
Another standard reference source for information about publications is
Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory. This is a comprehensive and classi-
fied listing of periodicals that not only provides subscription and contact infor-
mation but also indicates where a title is indexed, abstracted, and available
online. It is thoroughly indexed by ISSN, subject, and title. Another important
feature is the list of titles that have ceased publication since the last edition of
the directory. It is also available online at http://www.ulrichsweb.com.
Postal directories on the web:
The United States Postal Service
(USPS) offers http://www.usps.gov, where
you can find zip codes and post
offices as well as purchase stamps
and track packages. Canada Post
at http://www.canadapost.ca provides
similar services in English and in
French.