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LIBRARY

Libraries provide free access to educational, news, and historical resources to keep the public informed with facts rather than fiction, acting as information hubs with librarians guiding patrons. Library resources are organized into different sections to help users locate specific materials, including reference books which provide definitive information on topics rather than consecutive reading. Reference sources commonly found in libraries include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, indexes, handbooks, manuals, yearbooks, and biographical sources.

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16 views7 pages

LIBRARY

Libraries provide free access to educational, news, and historical resources to keep the public informed with facts rather than fiction, acting as information hubs with librarians guiding patrons. Library resources are organized into different sections to help users locate specific materials, including reference books which provide definitive information on topics rather than consecutive reading. Reference sources commonly found in libraries include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, indexes, handbooks, manuals, yearbooks, and biographical sources.

Uploaded by

tyler.alt345
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LIBRARY

By providing free access to educational, news, and historical resources, libraries


help keep the public informed with facts, rather than confused with fiction. They act
as a hub of information, and their leaders, the librarians, torch bearers for facts.
While they might have a robust fiction section, libraries are still some of the
greatest champions of truth. Library has different sections. You have to be familiar
with the structure of the library, for you to locate the specific
resources you’re looking for
A reference book is often defined as "a book designed by the arrangement and
treatment of its subject matter to be consulted for definite items of information
rather than to be read consecutively," and a reference collection as a "collection of
reference books and other materials in a library, useful for supplying authoritative
information or identifying sources, kept together for convenience in providing
information service, and generally not allowed to circulate." (ALA Glossary… 1998)
Different types of reference sources:

Almanacs and Yearbooks


Atlases
Bibliographies
Biographies
Chronologies and Timelines
Dictionaries and Thesauri
Directories
Encyclopedias
Gazetteers
Handbooks and Manuals
Indexes
Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Atlases & Almanacs
Common Types of Dictionaries and Atlases
A dictionary defines words or phrases.
• General – cover all subjects, abridged (shorter version, may not cover all
meanings for each word, and may not include more obscure words) or unabridged.
• Etymological – trace the histories of the word.
• Foreign Language – translate foreign words into English i.e. La Mer (French) =
"The Sea".
• Desk – omit archaic terms and place an emphasis on modern pronunciations
and meanings of words.
• Slang and Dialect –have definitions of colloquial words, such as "y'all" and
"possum".
• Thesauri - contain synonyms and antonyms.
• Abbreviations and Acronyms – list full names/give short forms of societies,
institutes.
• Quotations – reprint famous sayings, essays or speeches.

Atlases and Maps there are three types of atlases and maps: current, historical, and
thematic. Atlases are collections of maps, and sometimes include supplementary
illustrations. Maps are visual representations of a physical area, such as oceans, the
universe, and the world.
Encyclopedias and Almanacs
Encyclopedias There are two main categories of encyclopedias: general and subject.
They use indexes and “see also' to help the user find the information.
A general encyclopedia covers information that is interdisciplinary and broad in
scope. Usually you will find factual answers, general background information and
preliminary research information.
A subject encyclopedia covers a single subject and provides in-depth information.
Here you may find scholarly coverage of topics within the subject.
Almanacs usually deal with the information of a particular country from a current
and historical perspective (may include comparative world history and current
data); it contains very practical information.
Handbooks or Manuals are handy guides to a subject; they often include examples
or illustrations, or both.
Examples:
• The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
- REF LB2369.G53
• Publication Manual of the APA
- REF BF76.7 .P83
• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
- REF QD65 .H3
• Physicians’ Desk Reference: PDR
- REF RS75 .P5
Yearbooks contain facts and statistics for a single year
Examples:
• Facts on File – a yearbook that is added to weekly
- REF D410.F3
• Europa World Year Book – has summary of or complete constitution for each
country and much more - REF JN1 .E85
Biographical Sources
Direct biographical sources provide the information about the person. Examples:
• Who’s Who
- REF E663 .W56
• Dictionary of American Biography
- REF E 176 .D57
Indirect Biographical Sources lead the user to other sources where the information
may be found. Example:
• Biography Index - REF Z 5301 .B5
Directories list people and organizations, supplying contact information – the most
well known directory is the telephone book.

Activity 2
A Visit to the Library
Visit the school library and look for references that are useful to you as learners
then identify them according to their types

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