This month, we’re highlighting three reviews we think every life sciences librarian should read to broaden their awareness of life sciences resources. Though many of the reviews published on Doody’s Collection Development Monthly® focus on health sciences, a small subset are dedicated to highlighting critical tools in the life sciences, a neighboring and, albeit, highly related set of disciplines.  

1. Wiley Current Protocols: Abbey Lewis’ 2023 review of Wiley Current Protocols highlights the resource’s extensive collection of authoritative protocols in the life sciences. This resource is important to consider for researchers needing reliable, up-to-date methodologies across a wide range of experimental techniques. The review praises the resource for its structured, step-by-step protocols that facilitate reproducibility and accuracy in experimental procedures. Additionally, it emphasizes the user-friendly format and regular updates that ensure the inclusion of the latest scientific advancements. This review helps librarians determine the worthiness of the resource for life sciences in both laboratory settings and educational contexts. As Lewis concludes, Current Protocols is “a strong choice for libraries supporting research in the life sciences”. 

2. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols: Kelsey Sawyer’s 2023 review of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols emphasizes the resource’s rigorous standards and comprehensive coverage of techniques across various biological disciplines. The review points out that the protocols provide researchers with detailed comparisons of experimental approaches. The review highlights its strength in providing background information that aids in understanding the principles behind the methods. Librarians should take notice of this review; as Sawyer notes, the resource “will be a useful addition for any libraries that support life science research”. 

3. Biological Abstracts: Edith Scarletto’s 2023 review of Biological Abstracts reflects its role as an important bibliographic database in the life sciences. As the review notes, this resource offers indexed references to a vast array of scientific articles. The review acknowledges Biological Abstracts for its sophisticated search capabilities, which are necessary for researchers conducting extensive reviews or meta-analyses. The review also notes the resource’s value in keeping researchers informed about the latest literature in their fields. As Scarletto concludes, the resource’s detailed indexing and broad coverage make it “a critical basic life sciences research tool with sophistication to meet the needs of seasoned researchers”. 

These reviews collectively offer expert perspectives on each resource’s strengths and applications in the life sciences. We hope you find them useful for learning more about and evaluating each resource for your library’s users. Are there other resources you consider important for facilitating life sciences education and research? Sound off in the comments below!