“In a world where information is being generated at an ever-increasing rate and volume, the need to select, synthesize, and present core pieces for varying audiences is crucial. Libraries are often hard-pressed to provide good, accessible information for students on changing technologies. Encyclopedias like this one fill that need.

More than 400 entries, on topics from Abacus to Wood and woodworking, range in length from two to ten pages. The index volume offers 33 pages of tables and lists, among which are measurement conversions, the periodic table, prefixes, Nobel Prize winners, a glossary, suggested Web sites, addresses, inventors, and a scientific time line. The measurement conversions page is repeated at the beginning of each volume. A “Thematic List of Contents” organizes the contents into 12 broad areas like “Agriculture and Food Technology,” “Computers and Communication,” and “Environment Technology.” The bibliography is organized in the same way and includes contemporary classics and important works in each area. There is an overall index, demonstrating the breadth of coverage. There are also subject indexes for each of the 12 themes.

The set is generously illustrated with more than 1, 400 photographs, diagrams, and other illustrations, most in color. Sidebars highlight related facts, historical information, the contribution of individuals, the impact of the technology on everyday life, and possible future developments. Several types of cross-references lead students to related topics, and further reading suggestions accompany many articles. The articles are signed, the photographs credited, and the editorial board's affiliations included, all of which are important in teaching young people to respect resources.

The set does a good job of providing a wide range of important technological topics with reference to both the science that preceded them and their current and potential uses. More accessible than the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology [RBB Se 15 97], this is a good addition to junior-and senior-high-school and public libraries and to college curriculum centers supporting teacher education.”

“An outstanding encyclopedia set for those at the middle to high school grade level is Encyclopedia of Technology and Applied Science: ten volumes of a little over a hundred pages each provide both color and black and white photos and charts throughout, packing in clear explanations and overviews in a A-Z reference to everything from alloys to magnetic storage media. This set is sure to have lasting use. ”

“This 11-volume reference completes a science trilogy written for high school students and others with an interest in technology and applied sciences. In an attractive format, it covers a wide range of topics and includes about 1, 400 color photographs, drawings, and diagrams. Volumes 1-10 contain alphabetically arranged articles covering all aspects of technology as well as the scientific theories and innovations that underlie them. Topics include agricultural, environmental, medical, military, and transportation technology; chemistry; computers and communications; energy; and engineering. Special boxes provide a concise look at particular aspects of the subject, scientists and inventors, impact on everyday life, history, and the future. Volume 11 comprises the index, bibliography, glossary, time line of inventions, alphabetical list of inventors and their inventions, thematic list of contents, conversion chart, and a chart of other useful scientific information.”