INFS 321

Information Sources

Session 2 – Introduction to Information Sources Part II

Lecturer: Prof. Perpetua S. Dadzie, DIS

Contact Information: pdadzie@ug.edu.gh

College of Education
School of Continuing and Distance Education
2014/2015 – 2016/2017
 Session Overview
Information sources or reference sources help to
answer frequently asked questions or challenging
questions about what is happening in our environment
or even what happened some time ago.
At the end of the session, the student will be able to :
• Explain what Control-Access-Directional sources are
• Explain what Source types of reference sources are

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 2

 Session Outline
The key topics to be covered in the session are as
follows:
• Topic One : Classification of reference source:
Control-Access- Directional sources
• Topic Two : Classification of reference source:
Source types

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 3

 Reading List
• Kumar, Krishan (2006) Reference Service 5th
ed. Delhi: Vikas Publishing House
• Katz, A. William (2002) Introduction to
Reference, Work Vols. I & II, 8th ed.

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 4

 Topic One

CLASSIFICATION OF REFERENCES SOURCES –

CONTROL-ACCESS-DIRECTIONALCTIONAL
SOURCES
Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 5
 Control-Access-Directional
• Control –Access- Directional sources – also known
bibliographies.
• Bibliographies are compilations or systematically
produced descriptive list of records.
• Record pertinent information about each item
listed, including its author, title, edition, place of
publication, publisher and date of publication.
• Bibliographic sources answer questions about
books, magazines, newspapers, libraries and
publishing.
•
Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 6
 Control-Access-Directional 2
Why Bibliographies are called Control –Access-
Directional sources?
• Bibliographies serve as control device or checklist
• Bibliographies inventory what is produced daily or
yearly
• They enable both compiler or producer of
bibliography and user to feel that they have a
control, through organization, of the steady flow of
knowledge.

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 7

 Control-Access-Directional 3
• Why Bibliographies are called Control –Access-
Directional sources
• Bibliographies also provide access.
• They are prepared through research (that is,
identification, description and classification of
information).
• Once the items are controlled, individual items are
organized for easy access to facilitate intelligent
work.

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 8

 Control-Access-Directional 4
• Why Bibliographies are called Control –Access-
Directional sources
• Bibliographies are also referred to as Directional
because they do not give definitive answers, but
serve to direct users to sources of answers.
• Most Control-Access--Directional sources of
reference works are available not only in print but
also in electronic format.

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 9

 Control-Access-Directional 5
• Why Bibliographies are called Control –Access-
Directional sources
• Bibliographies are also referred to as Directional
because they do not give definitive answers, but
serve to direct users to sources of answers.
• Most Control-Access--Directional sources of
reference works are available not only in print but
also in electronic format.

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 10

 Control-Access-Directional 6
Bibliographies are subdivided as follows:
• Bibliographies of reference sources and the
literature of a field, eg. Guide to Reference Books
• The library catalog or the catalogs of numerous
libraries; bibliographical utilities. eg. Online
Computer Library Centre (OCLC), Research Library
Information Network (RLIN)
• General systematic enumerative bibliographies eg,
The National Union Catalog.
• Indexes and abstracts - bibliographical aids –eg,
The Readers’ Guide to Periodical literature, The
New York Times Index.
Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 11
 Topic Two

CLASSIFICATION OF REFERENCES SOURCES –

SOURCE TYPESCTIONAL SOURCES

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 12

 Source Types
• They usually suffice in themselves to give the answers.
Examples of sources types include Encyclopedias, Fact
sources, Dictionaries, Biographical Sources, Geographical
sources and Government Documents.
• Encyclopedias eg, Encyclopedia Britannica; Encyclopedias
on CD-ROM and online eg, Encarta
• Fact sources –Almanacs, Handbooks, Manuals and
Directories. eg. World Almanac, Statesman’s Year Book.
• Dictionaries –eg. Webster’s Third New International
Dictionary;
• Biographical Sources –eg. Who’s Who

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 13

 Source Types 2
• Geographical sources – Atlases, gazetteers, dictionaries of
place names and guidebooks
• Government Documents – Official publications by MDA’s. eg
monthly catalog of United States Government Publications
(access type); United States Government Manual (source
type)

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 14

 Conclusion
• Neat categorization not always distinct in an actual
situation.
• A bibliography may be only source required if question is
merely one of verification or of trying to complete a
bibliographical citation.
• Conversely, bibliography at end of encyclopedia article or a
statement in that article may direct patron to another
source.
• Two main categories – access and source – serve to
differentiate among the principal types of reference works.
• With the introduction of computers neat categorization no
longer exist.
• Electronic databases eg Emerald, EBSCO has bibliographic
and full text.
Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 15
 Activity
Visit any library of your choice and identify the following
sources
• Guides to the Literature: Walford’s Guide to Reference
Materials; Balay’s Guide to Reference Books
• Indexes: The Readers’ Guide to Periodical literature,
The New York Times Index.
• Electronic Search : Online Computer Library Centre
(OCLC), Research Library Information Network (RLIN)

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 16

 Activity 2
Source Types:
• Encyclopedia: The New Encyclopedia Britannica;
• Fact sources : The World Almanacs and Book of Facts;
The Statesmans’ Year Book.
• Dictionary: Webster’s Third New International
Dictionary;
• Biographical Source : International Who’s Who
• Geographical source : The Columbia Gazetteers

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 17

 References
Katz, A. William (2002) Introduction to Reference, Work
Vols. I pp. 7-8

Prof. P.S.Dadzie, DIS Slide 18