Tanya, I do this.
AND I’ve noticed if I’ve printed pictures off the web and bring them with me alongside books, the Client’s response to the printed images is never quite as enthusiastic as their reactions to the images in the books. Considering most of my clients’ ages are over 50, I think books are a familiar medium for them, and absolutely have creditability. Web images often lack the “whole” story behind them.
Sometimes I get clients don’t know what they want. Without pushing my agenda, I’ll leave a comprehensive set of books with them (though I’ve lost one or two this way). And when I return I’ll ask what they liked and ALSO ask what they don’t like. It’s a great gauge on what they “see”.