I found the most useful discussion on evaluating potential genealogical textbooks was a chapter in Kory Meyerink’s book, Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1998). Chapter 2, written by my colleague Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, entitled “Instructional Materials” pages 68-92. There is a large table comparing the contents of beginning genealogy texts, and interesting section on how to evaluate and genealogy how-to book, and bibliographies and more bibliographies.
This would be a useful tool for teachers of genealogy in public schools or adult education. And for the genealogy librarian, bibliographies like this are excellant tools comparing one’s own library holdings, and what is out there. Its strong on US material, but there is a little Canadian content.
Looking for more Canadian content? Take a look at my friend Ryan Taylor’s book The Canadian Genealogical Sourcebook published by the Canadian Library Association in 2004.
I find it interesting that the three authors mentioned above are all on the faculty of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies
Genealogy Education 