Lesson 2:

Reference Sources and Basic Types

 Lessons in Module 2 include:
I. Basic Reference Sources
II. Other Sources of Information
III. Uses of Reference Sources

 Intended Learning Outcomes

 At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Identify basic reference sources;
2. Examine the characteristics of basic reference sources; and
3. Use basic reference sources in finding information.
Reference Sources and Basic Types
Reference- the word “reference” comes from the verb “refer” which means “to turn to for
aid or information”
ALA defines reference sources as materials designed by the arrangement and treatment of
its subject matter to be consulted for definite items of information rather than to be read
consecutively.

 Two basic types of reference sources:

1. Control-access-directional reference
➢ These reference sources compile information that refer the user to other
information sources.
➢ Directional type of reference sources are those which points out where the
information can be found.
➢ Included in this group are:
i. Bibliographies- a list of works whether intended to be complete or
selective, compiled on some organizing principle, such as authorship,
subject, place of publication, chronology or printer.
ii. Library catalogs- list of holdings found in a library or group of libraries
iii. Indexes- a tool used to locate information within a document
iv. Abstracts-same as index but contains a summary of the materials’ content
2. Ready Reference
➢ These reference materials are used most often in answering ready
reference questions (a reference question that can be answered by
the reference librarian in just a few moments by providing a fact or
piece of information found in a single source).
➢ These includes:
i. Dictionaries
ii. Encyclopedias
iii. Almanacs
iv. Yearbooks
v. And many others
▪ 2 Classes of Reference Materials
1} General
2} Specialized (subject reference)
GENERAL REFERENCE SOURCES
 DICTIONARY-provides information about words-meaning, derivation, spelling, pronunciation,
syllabication, usage and current status.

o The word “dictionarius” meaning “a collection of words” was first used in the English Language about
1225 as the title of Latin terms.

 Uses of Dictionaries:

✓ Define words or translate them

✓ Verify spelling, syllabication or pronunciation
✓ Check on usage
✓ Determine the etymological history of a word
✓ Standardize the language to some extent

 Example Publishers of Dictionaries:

✓ Meriam- Webster
✓ Oxford University Press
✓ Random House
✓ Scott-Foresman
✓ Doubleday
✓ Macmillan
✓ Simon & Schuster
✓ Houghton Mifflin
Types of Dictionary
 Unabridged Dictionary- not derived or condensed from a larger work and attempt to include all words in a language
that are in use
- Complete, covering all the words of a language
- Consists of 250, 000 words
 Example: Webster’s Third New International Dictionary

 Abridged or Desk Dictionary- reduced in content but retaining the features of the unabridged work
 -consists of 55,000-130,000 words
 Example: Webster’s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary

 Etymological Dictionary- gives the history of individual words, also called historical or diachronic
 -which are like historical dictionaries but tend to put more emphasis on analysis of components and cognates in other languages
 Example: The Oxford English Dictionary

 Slang Dictionary- defines terms used in ordinary or informal speech

 -Example: Dictionary of American Slang

 Dual language or Bilingual Dictionary- contains terms in one language and definitions in a second language in the first
section
 -Example: Filipino-English Dictionary
Types of Dictionary
 Subject works- which concentrates on the definition of words in a given area, such as science and t
echnology.
 Thesaurus – it is a work containing synonymous and related words and phrases rather than explaining
meanings.
 -from Greek origin means a storehouse of treasury of knowledge

 Lexicon- it is a dictionary, most often of ancient languages

 -derived from the Greek lexis meaning word.

 Glossary- it is an alphabetical list of definitions. The list may relate to words used in a particular book or to
a particular subject.

 Concordance-it is an alphabetical index of the important words in a book, or the works of an author, with
references to the phrases and passages in the text.
❑ ENCYCLOPEDIA
- Gives an overview of a topic, including definition, description, background, and bibliographical references.
- Give readers brief and specific background information to proceed to deeper and in-depth investigation of the
topic that will most likely interest them.
- Derived from the Greek word which means “instruction in the circle of knowledge”was the first applied to
what we conceive as an encyclopedia by Pliny the Elder.

 General Encyclopedia- it provides information on a wide range of subject areas

 Examples:
✓ Collier’s Encyclopedia
✓ New Encyclopedia Britannica
✓ The World Book Encyclopedia
✓ Compton’s Encyclopedia and Fact Index
✓ Encyclopedia Americana
✓ Encyclopedia International
ENCYCLOPEDIA
 Special Encyclopedia- provides information on a particular subject
 Examples:
✓ Encyclopedia of Sports
✓ Encyclopedia of World Art
✓ The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography
✓ International Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians

 Characteristics of Encyclopedia
✓ Encyclopedias provide background information and not intended for subject
specialist.
✓ Articles are written by subject experts and adapted by editorial staff
✓ Most encyclopedias adopt a policy of continuous revision
✓ Most articles include a bibliography listing for further reading
✓ Those signed by contributors are more likely to be authoritative
ENCYCLOPEDIA
 Special Encyclopedia- provides information on a particular subject
 Examples:
✓ Encyclopedia of Sports
✓ Encyclopedia of World Art
✓ The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography
✓ International Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians

 Characteristics of Encyclopedia
✓ Encyclopedias provide background information and not intended for subject specialist.
✓ Articles are written by subject experts and adapted by editorial staff
✓ Most encyclopedias adopt a policy of continuous revision
✓ Most articles include a bibliography listing for further reading
✓ Those signed by contributors are more likely to be authoritative

 Uses of Encyclopedia
✓ Brief factual details where there is little controversy
✓ An introduction to or an overview of a topic for the non-expert
✓ Referral to other more detailed works through a bibliography at the end of the article
GENERAL REFERENCE SOURCES
 Almanacs- a compendium of useful data and statistics relating to countries,
personalities, events, subjects, and the like

 Yearbooks- an annual compendium of the data and statistics of a given year

 Handbooks- is a volume which treats broad subject in brief fashion. It may

include odd bits of information about a variety of topics
 Types of Handbooks

✓ Manuals- which give instruction on, or serves as guides to, occupations, hobbies, art forms,
trade, etc.
✓ Miscellanies- which include bits of unusual and hard-to-find information on many subjects
✓ Companions- which explain and interpret various aspects of a subject
✓ Digests- which present in condensed form information that is classified and arranged under
proper headings or titles
 Other Types of Handbooks
✓ Curiosities handbooks- handbooks about customs, traditions, events,
superstitions, science, the arts
✓ Literary handbooks- handbooks that deal with illusions, identifications of plots,
characters and quotations
✓ Historical handbooks- handbooks about, such as:
o Calendar handbooks
o Statistical handbooks- deal with numerical data mostly in the social sciences
with heavy emphasis on population, finance, education, etc.
o Documentary handbooks- provide the exact wording of rules, regulations,
laws, decisions and documents
o Parliamentary law and debates handbooks- handbooks that answer
questions that answer questions about conducting meetings, supporting
arguments and participating in debates
 Types of Manuals
✓ Cookbooks- manuals that deal with the buying and selecting of foods, cooking hints

 Directories- a list of persons or organizations systematically arranged, usually in

alphabetic or classed order giving address, affiliations, etc. for individuals and address, officers,
functions, and similar data for organizations
 Biographical Sources- carefully research, relatively full narrative account of the life of a
specific person or closely related group of people, written by another.
 Autobiography- a person who write his own life history
 Categories of Biographical Sources:
✓ Universal Biographical Dictionaries
✓ National or Regional Biographical Dictionaries
✓ Professional or Occupational Biographical Dictionaries
✓ Current Biographical Dictionaries
✓ Retrospective Biographical Dictionaries
Geographical Sources- primarily answers questions about location
 Map- graphical representation of certain boundaries of the earth on flat surface
 Globe- three-dimensional representation of the earth’s surface
 Atlas- is a collection of maps, usually bound together in one volume
 Gazetteer- gives information about geographical places; it does not define them

 Types of Maps and their Uses

✓ Physical Map- indicates the physical characteristics and type of land of a particular place
✓ Political Map- shows political boundaries of cities, provinces, countries
✓ Population Map- shows distribution of people on earth
✓ Product Map- show the specific yields or harvest of an area
✓ Relief Map- shows elevations and depressions of certain places
✓ Road Map- shows routes for automobile travel
✓ Street Map- shows streets in the city
✓ Vegetation Map- indicates the areas where there are forests, jungles, grasslands and dessert
✓ War Map- shows where fighting is going on
✓ Weather Map- shows the movement of weather
 Reference Sources created In-House
 Traditionally, librarians have developed in-house files and indexes to meet local
needs, and these are:
 Reference/Information Files
 Indexing of Local Newspapers/In-house Publication
 Updating of Directories
 Bibliographies
 Abstracts
 Clipping Files
Other Sources of Information
 Serials- a publication in any medium issued in successive parts bearing
numerical or chronological designations and intended to be continued
indefinitely.
 Government Publications- any publication originating in, or issued with
the imprints of, or at the expense and by the authority of, any office of a legally
organized government or international organizations
 Pamphlets- a publication which deals with only one subject and consists of
a few pages stitched together and enclosed in paper covers
 Clippings- which have been taken from newspapers, magazines, brochures,
and other sources are useful for current events and for providing information
on subjects to brief to be treated in pamphlets or books
Other Sources of Information
 Audiovisual Materials- are essential in art and music appreciated courses and in language
courses. Materials include pictures, postcards, slides, filmstrips, motion picture films, charts,
graphs, videorecordings, cassettes, and flipcharts.
 Microforms- is the name given to any microphoto-graphically produced printed matter
 Kinds of Microforms:
✓ Microfilm- may be 16-mm roll or cartridge film; developed as a means of saving space by
microcopying back issues of newspapers and magazines
✓ Microprint- is a microphotograph of printed material reproduced in printed form on 6 by 9
inch cards or sheets, containing up to 100 pages of text
✓ Microcards- is a microscopic photographic reproduction on printed material on standard size
3 by 5 inch library catalog cards
✓ Microfiche- it is a 4-by 6- inch film card which contains rows of micro-images of pages, cards
or other printed material