Ready Reference

READY REFERENCERyan Noble, Eric Robinson, Laine Thielstrom, & Annie

Thomas

What is Ready Reference? Compile information consulted regularly

into a single resource

Serves as a resource for a specific group of question types

Arranges information for easy access

Evaluating Ready Reference Resources

Accuracy of information Documentation of sources Currency of resource Adequacy of indexing Layout of information

ALMANACSEric Robinson

What are almanacs?Almanacs compile recent statistics and facts

often on political, cultural, or current events

Coverage may be general or subject specific

Include facts, statistics, lists, and annual chronologies

Usually published annuallyInformation is well researched and

authoritative

Source: (2009) World almanac and book of facts. New York: World Almanac.

Source: (2009). Time almanac. Boston: Information Please, LLC.

General AlmanacsAddress many fact-based questions:

• Population demographics, economic information, or other statistics about a given country

• Tables of statistics, chronologies, and lists and descriptive information• Facts on hundreds of public figures

Arranged Topically for browsing

• People Nature/Science World United States Business Sports

Information typically accessed through index

(2008). Time almanac. Boston: Information Please, LLC.

(2008). Time almanac. Boston: Information Please, LLC.

Comparing General AlmanacsWorld Almanac Time Almanac

•Longer text entries

•fewer illustrations, maps, etc.

•Online version requires subscription

•Online version requires subject and key word searches

•Better visual arrangement within topics

•Excellent visuals

•Better indexing of personal names

•Online version is free but laden with ads

•Online version much more browsable

Bowker Annual Library and Book Trade Almanac

•Presents information and statistics on libraries and publishing

•Reports from national agencies, associations, and organizations

•Information on recent legislation affecting these industries

•Bibliographies and distinguished book lists

•Directories of libraries, library organizations and book trade organizations Source: (2009). Library and book trade

almanac. New York: Information Today.

Political analysis

State by state coverage

Profiles of officials

Player statistics

Histories of all types of sports

Team histories

Chronologies

African American Firsts

Historical documents

Statistical Abstract of the United States

(2009) The 2009 statistical abstract. Retrieved from: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

Source: (2009) The 2009 statistical abstract. Retrieved from: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

Test your knowledgeWhich resource would you use to locate

statistics on trends in e-book sales?

A. Time AlmanacB. World Almanac and Book of FactsC. The Bowker AnnualD. Statistical Abstract of the U.S.

?

Test your knowledgeWhich resource would you use to locate

statistics on trends in e-book sales?

C. The Bowker Annual

References (2008). Time almanac. Boston: Information Please, LLC.

(2009) Infoplease.com. Accessed on June 27, 2009 from: Infoplease.com

(2009). Library and book trade almanac. New York: Information Today.

(2009). Time Almanac. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.

(2009) World almanac and book of facts. New York: World Almanac.

(2009) World almanac Online. Retrieved June 18, 2009 from Academic Search Premier: http://web.ebscohost.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ehost/search?vid=1&hid=107&sid=2d5637b1-2ede-4e47-918f-ce9e0db4c55d%40sessionmgr104

(2009) The 2009 statistical abstract. Retrieved from: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/