A NEW HISTORY FOR A NEW CENTURY

In 2011, Gale Cengage Learning (a Gale product) offered free access to their online resources April 10-24, in celebration of National Library Week. I am a retired librarian, and this notice piqued my interest as many of these resources were not available at my final library assignment.  Further, it had been some years since my assignments involved reviewing reference materials for acquisition. I was familiar with the major titles and the venerable and venerated publishers, but not with the “new history” contained in the “current and updated” articles.

My first venture was into Cengage’s Global Issues in Context, and I started with their Overview article on Israel. The only paragraphs that did not demand revision were those dealing with latitude and longitude and the description of the physical features of the country.

I contacted the Managing Editor and provided a critique of the article. The article was reviewed and, indeed, revised. While the revised article still has some problems, it is much improved from the original.

But, that is one article amongst many, and I found roughly half a dozen additional problem articles in that resource. Cengage also publishes other resources, including Opposing Viewpoints. I found the same problems with articles on Israel and the Middle East in that publication.

In reviewing the article on Israel in World Book Online I found similar misrepresentations of Israel, both in tone and in content. (World Book has reviewed this article and changed one entire word). ABC-CLIO, another publisher of reference materials, produces Issues: Understanding Controversy & Society. Ditto to the problems in Gale and World Book.

The editors with whom I communicated at Gale and World Book were cordial, concerned and responsive. However, they did not appear anxious to have me critique all the “questionable” articles in their publications.

As well, I perceive this as the tip of the iceberg. There are at present roughly half a dozen to a dozen major players in reference publishing, and they appear to be interconnected. Consequently, the flavor of their products is quite similar.

Added to the monotone color of the publishers is the issue of their advisory boards, editors and authors that provide “expertise” acquired from Saudi and Iranian funded Middle East Studies programs in America’s colleges and universities.

Lest you think that my statement is unduly critical, the following are opening sentences from three separate articles from ABC-CLIO’s Issues: Understanding Controversy & Society:

(1)   “The country of Israel, located in the volatile Middle East, has actively engaged in espionage throughout its history.” (article on “Israel”)

(2)   “The state of Israel often strikes specific terror suspects from helicopters and gun ships, and many times innocent people are killed.” (article on “International Terrorism: Outlook”)

(3)   “Palestine is a historical area of the Middle East now largely within the boundaries of the Jewish state of Israel.” (article on “Palestine”)

I will be posting articles from these and other online reference resources and critiquing each article. Stay tuned!