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I can't comment on what others are using but these are some references I have and would recommend for the night-sky observer ...
Value for money, you can't go past the annual astronomy yearbook (Astronomy 2009 Australia, next year Astronomy 2010 Australia) by Ken Wallace, Glenn Dawes and Peter Northfield.
For a good general reference and target objects by constellation, Atlas of the Southern Night Sky by Steve Massey and Steve Quirk.
Sky & Telescope's Pocket Atlas has fairly well detailed maps and is useful in the field. It won't fit in your pocket and it doesn't describe any of the objects on the maps. However, the objects are indexed so you can locate them.
A handy pocket atlas is the Collins book Stars & Planets by Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion. Has an alphabetical list of constellations with target objects and nice simple maps for beginners.
More expensive is the Cambridge Double Star Atlas by James Mullaney and Wil Tirion. The maps are probably the best I've seen. It has many deep sky objects as well.
Regards, Rob
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