Scientists and researchers can consistently rely on the GeoRef Thesaurus to obtain the most useful and accurate literature searches of the GeoRef database. It is a guide to the index terms used by GeoRef, which contains over 2.6 million bibliographic citations and abstracts covering all of the geoscience disciplines and allied environmental sciences. For each term, the Thesaurus includes hierarchical, synonymous and other relationships; usage notes; dates of addition; indexing rules; geographic coordinates; and guidelines for searching. The main section of the GeoRef Thesaurus consists of term entries and cross-references, which are arranged alphabetically. The appendices also provide hierarchical lists of systematic (including minerals, fossils, rock types), geographic and economic terms.
The new terms represent names and concepts frequently encountered by GeoRef indexers since the last edition of the Thesaurus. Some of these terms also relate to political changes and to the activities of the Ocean Drilling Program, including complete coverage through ODP Leg 209.
The GeoRef Thesaurus was prepared at the American Geological Institute by Barbara Goodman, a GeoRef editor/indexer, in consultation with GeoRef staff and the Vocabulary Task Force, a committee of GeoRef users from the United States and abroad. It is generally organized according to the American National Standard, Guidelines for the Construction, Format, and Management of Monolingual Thesauri (ANSI/NISO Z39.19-2003).
The GeoRef Thesaurus, 10th edition, (ISBN# 0-922152-72-1) is 870 pages, soft cover (8.5" x 11"). The list price is $139.95; members of AGI Member Societies receive a 20 percent discount at $111.96. Please add an additional $13.25 for postage and handling costs in the contiguous United States. Orders to addresses in Maryland and Virginia are subject to sales tax. All orders must be prepaid. Please make your check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank in funds payable to the American Geological Institute. AGI also accepts VISA and MasterCard. Orders are sent by UPS Standard Service, and take two to three weeks for delivery. To determine overseas shipping costs, obtain additional information, or to order, contact the AGI Publications Department at www.agiweb.org/pubs, or by mail, telephone, fax or email to pubs@agiweb.org.
The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 43 scientific and professional associations that represent more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in our profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources and interaction with the environment. More information about AGI can be found at http://www.agiweb.org.