Landscape Architecture Sourcebook: A Guide to Resources on the History and Practice of Landscape Architecture in the United States (Design Reference Series, Vol. 1)

While landscape architecture in America has a rich history dating back to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, most guides to architectural literature do not include separate sections for landscape architecture. Landscape Architecture Sourcebook remedies this oversight by providing annotated listings of a wide range of recently published English-language publications, institutional resources, and other sources containing information on landscape architectural history and practice in the United States. In addition, a small number of important works that survey international activities are also described, and electronic formats such as online databases, network information resources and discussion lists, and computer and media resources are covered.

Entries typically include full bibliographic data for books and periodicals, with paragraph-length annotations providing a description of the work's contents. For institutional resources, current addresses and telephone numbers are given along with fax numbers and World Wide Web sites when available. Core titles deemed essential for a well-rounded but basic collection are identified with an asterisk.

Other titles in the Design Reference Series include "Architecture Sourcebook" and "Interior Design Sourcebook."

Landscape architecture has been practiced in the U.S. since its beginnings. Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both attempted to mold, modify, and improve the landscape. This first volume from Omnigraphics' Design Reference series provides an annotated listing of reference materials and core literature for the area of U.S. landscape architecture. Future volumes in the series will cover architecture and interior design.

Specialists who have years of practical experience have compiled this collection of books, journal articles, CD-ROMs and other materials to meet the needs of students, teachers, librarians, practicing professionals, and interested laypersons. The aim of the book is not to be comprehensive but to describe materials that are relatively current and easy to obtain. Although the emphasis is on the U.S., a small number of important works surveying international activities are also described. The majority of the cited sources were published during the '70s, '80s, and '90s, with the most current from 1994. There are also some older classic titles, such as Ossian Cole Simonds' Landscape Gardening (Macmillan, 1920). Most of the titles listed in the "Books on Computers" section were published during the 1980s, which makes the value of this section questionable.

Entries are arranged in 10 chapters, dividing the literature into categories such as "Reference Works," "Landscape Architects and Architectural Firms," "Plant Materials," and "Computer and Media Resources." Chapter 6, "Core Works on Places and Projects," is subdivided into "Gardens," "Parks and Public Lands," "City Planning--Urban Landscape Design," "Landscape Preservation and Restoration," and "Special Projects and Sites." Each entry for books and journals includes full bibliographic data as well as an annotation. These range in length from approximately 20 to 150 words. Institutional entries include address, telephone and fax numbers, and World Wide Web site. A glossary of the key terms required for understanding the structure of the resources and literature for the field of landscape architecture is found in the appendix.

Research and special libraries will find this well-designed bibliography a useful addition. It may also have value as a collection-building tool in large public libraries that collect in this area.