Page 203 - DLIS006_INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES

Information Sources and Services

Notes included. Directories form the largest category of reference sources. It is not easily possible to
estimate the number of directories published every year because many of these published
locally may not be copyrighted. A collection of directories in print would easily fill a large
library. Their number would be few hundred thousand volumes. Directories are a rich source of
information. These vary in kinds, sizes and purposes. It may occur as a separate publication or
as a part of another publication. The selection of directory sources may vary greatly from
library to library, depending on size, mission, and users served. Some important criteria to
consider in selecting a directory include the user community, cost, and uniqueness.

10.1 Meaning of Directory

A directory is defined in the Dictionary for Library and Information Science as “a list of people,
companies, institutions, organizations, etc., in alphabetical or classified order, providing contact
information (names, addresses, phone/fax numbers, etc.) and other pertinent details (affiliations,
conferences, publications, membership, etc.) in brief format, often published serially.” Telephone
books and titles such as The Foundation Directory and the Million Dollar Directory are examples of
directory publications that are found in libraries of all types.

Did u know? Directories can cover a wide variety of topics and are available to libraries in
print, microform, and electronic formats.

Directories have a long history of serving the human need to know about people and places.
Early directory precursors were census-like compilations of property and persons that were
used by ancient and feudal governments to account for wealth and taxes. Narrative ancestors of
the directory were the travel and topographical histories of the early modern period.

Topographical histories provided geographical descriptions of places that often contained
detailed notes about their history and lists of inns, establishments, township or other things that
travellers would likely encounter on the road. Although these works had literary and historical
value, they also served a practical purpose for educated travellers to find out what to expect
when moving about the landscape.
Front 16th century England, John Leland’s Itinerary, William Harrison’s The Description of England,
and John Stow’s A Survey London are some of the more famous topographical histories. This type
of guide served a few highly educated users who needed to know about a broader world. The
topographical history was free of the pressure of having to constantly change because it served
a slowly changing rural society that was not tied together by efficient communications.

More utilitarian classified listings of people and places began to emerge in the mid-19th century.
The growth of cities and population spurred by the Industrial Revolution generated a need for
more people to know about things beyond their immediate experience. The linkage of
communications by telegraph, railroads, and later the telephone made knowledge of addresses,
timetables and telephone numbers essential for transacting daily life. As economies of scale
began to take shape, persons in businesses found it crucial to have a medium that would provide
their contact information and serve as a place to advertise their goods and services. Publishers
responded to these needs and produced the city directory.
The city directory of the 19th century is the direct precursor of the alphabetical and classified
directories of today. These publications sought to be a means for promoting the advantages of
doing business in a particular community. City directories also linked businesses, advertisers
and customers, in an effort to market commercial activities in a given area. Typically, a city
directory would have a local gazetteer and a classified listing of businesses. The classified listing

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