Career Information Center

Gr 9 Up—A long awaited update to the ninth edition (2007), this sleek new revision continues to provide descriptions for more than 700 careers, while reflecting new technologies and employment outlook in a changing economy. Each of the 16 volumes (previously there were 13) bears a cluster title, such as "Education and Training," "Hospitality and Tourism," "Health Science," or "Marketing." A table of contents in each volume lists cluster entries alphabetically, but users will still rely heavily on the master index in the last volume as the quickest route to their specific area of interest. A new volume, "Information Technology," features jobs such as business intelligence analyst, web developer, and multimedia artist. Entries are approximately four pages long each, and the information is now less narrative and more accessibly chunked into subheadings. Color-blocked fact boxes include bar graphs indicating median wages for typical jobs in that field, and licensure (or certification) organization contact information. Some entries feature "Is this career for you?" (a short interview with someone working in the field). Each entry is followed by a list of resources, including organizations, books, and audiovisual resources, such as Youtube videos. Large color photographs appear throughout, providing up-to-date depictions of people on the job. The set index contains many key word and cross-references, relying on bold type for main entry designation. Easily navigable for secondary students, this general reference will be valuable for public libraries and career centers.—Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland