The African Studies Companion: A Guide to Information Sources (review)

The third edition of the African Studies Companion continues Hans M. Zell's tradition of excellence in the publication of reference works for African Studies. Since the publication of the first edition, in 1989, this work has consistently provided essential information in a well-organized and easy-to-use format for individuals seeking to conduct research in African studies. The new edition is greatly revised and enlarged and has embraced the electronic resources available in the field. In addition to extensive revisions, this edition has been published in print and online formats, making it a one-of-a-kind reference resource for African studies.

The print edition consists of twenty-three sections, with several (subdivided by continent and country) directing the reader to resources in electronic and print formats and including extensive annotations. It provides information on more than 300 publishers in African studies, including contact information, details of topics covered, and language of publication. It includes sections on major bibliographical resources, cartographic sources, African-language resources, guides to film and video resources, news sources, guides to African newspapers, and major online forums and mailing lists. It adds contact information for African-studies collections around the world, NGOs, academic libraries and national archives in Africa, and much more. This is essential information for researchers who need to conduct research and/or communicate with organizations concerned with the continent. This work is a timesaving device, with its compilation of often hard-to-find directory information into one easy to use source.

The online edition was released in August of 2004; access to the password-protected site requires the purchase of the print version to obtain a username and password. It has been updated, and according to the publisher will continue to be updated as information changes. This updating is one of the work's greatest advantages. Most researchers have experienced the frustration of trying to contact an organization only to discover that the telephone number, address, email address, or URL has changed. Online updating will help circumvent these problems. In addition to online updates, the publisher hopes to publish a new print edition every two years, and may eventually make the African Studies Companion an annual publication with a serial subscription.

The user of this edition needs to be aware that the African Studies Companion is focused on general, multidisciplinary works. Researchers seeking subject- and country-specific resources should be aware that these are not included. The guide provides information about which bibliographic and reference tools might be appropriate as more specialized reference works on some subjects.

Overall, this guide is an excellent resource, which epitomizes the high standards of all Hans M. Zell's reference works. Both the electronic and print versions are beautifully presented, easy to use, and an asset to African studies.