Transcript
Reference Sources
Week 5-6Encyclopedias
Dictionaries
Almanacs
AtlasesDirectories
IndexesHandbooks
● Reference Sources
● In addition to Topic Development we also look at Reference Sources during Weeks 5 and 6
Reference Section of Library● Reference books are
often found in a separate section of the library, called ‘Reference’
Reference Section of Library
Our own Reference section at Rio Hondo Library!
http://www.slideshare.net/libtutorials101rhc/virtual-library-tour-30555191
Reference Source types
● Two major types:– Encyclopedias– Dictionaries
● Other Types:– Almanacs, Directories, Indexes,
Atlases [plus several specialized types]
Encyclopedias
Concise, factual overviews on a vast number of topics
Includes both general and subject specific encyclopedias
World Book Encyclopedia – widely used in public and school [K-12] libraries
Subject Specific EncyclopediasGeneral Encyclopedias
Dictionaries
A type of Reference book that contains shorter definitions or descriptions.
Includes both language dictionaries and subject specific dictionaries
Language dictionaries Subject Specific dictionaries
Other Types of Reference Sources
Almanacs – brief informative facts about many subjects
Use almanacs for: facts and statistics
Atlases
Atlases – maps of all kinds, with facts about countries, cities, regions of world
Use atlases for: maps, facts about world countries, regions, states or cities
Also can include specific subjects – types of animals, environment, resources
Directories
Directories – compilation of names, addresses, companies
Use directories for: lists of names, addresses, information about services, companies, organizations
Indexes
Indexes – list of topics with directions to locations [within book, or within collection
Use indexes for: locating books or resources in a collection
Reader’s Guide – formerly the only way to look up articles! You won’t see this much anymore, because now online databases provide much of our access to periodicals.But this used to be a standard library resource [we have copies at the RHC Library]
Types of Information and Reference Sources
For information about... Choose...
Words Dictionaries
General information/Overview of topic Encyclopedias
Names & addresses of people, organizations, institutions, companies Directories
Profiles of people Biographical Dictionaries
Places/Maps Gazetteers or Atlases
Facts and Statistics Almanacs
Formula, Tables, How-To-Do-It Handbooks and Manuals
A person's work Reviews or Criticisms
Dates, outlines, historical timelines Historical tables, Chronologies, Historical yearbooks
Periodical Articles Indexes or Abstracts
Books and other sources Bibliographies or Guides to Literature...
**From http://library.uaf.edu/ls101-reference-services
Sources for Encyclopedias
Our online RHC catalog http://rioh.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/
– Contains records for encyclopedias, dictionaries and annuals available in print in the library collection
RHC CatalogFind encyclopedias in our online catalogue (search by ‘encyclopedia’ and topic or subject):
RHC Catalog
encyclopedia psychology Search results:
RHC Catalog – another example
dictionary english
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Gale Virtual Reference Library from AccessRio
– Contains encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference source types
– Searchable and encyclopedia entries available full-text in the database
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Specific titles Subject areas
Specific title
● Gale Virtual Reference Library
Entries within encyclopedia
● Gale Virtual Reference Library
Table of Contents within encyclopedia
Most reference sources provide comprehensive --tables of contents--indexesin which you can look up the keywords or concepts you are seeking.
● Gale Virtual Reference Library
Index within encyclopedia
● Print Table of Contents and Index
Index within print source
top related