This resource provides a comprehensive index to biographical sketches, serving as a space-saving microfiche alternative to the Biography and Genealogy Master Index. It addresses the need for efficient access to biographical information within libraries where space is a constraint. The 1996-97 edition indexes over 900,000 sketches from 273 volumes and editions of biographical dictionaries and who's who publications. When combined with the 1995 Master Cumulation, it offers access to a total of 10.5 million citations.

Bio-Base 1996-97 is a specialized reference tool designed for libraries prioritizing space efficiency. Its value lies in its comprehensive indexing of biographical dictionaries and who's who publications, making it a critical resource for genealogical and biographical research. The microfiche format directly addresses the challenge of limited shelf space in archival and library settings. This edition, in conjunction with its predecessors, offers a vast repository of biographical citations.