| Tarleton
State University Libraries |
Unit 3 |
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REFERENCE WORKS: PURPOSE & USES |
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Reference
Works are often good starting points
for research projects due to the depth and variety of information
contained in them. They are not meant to be read cover to cover,
but are designed to be consulted quickly. Most reference materials
offer detailed tables of contents and indexes to facilitate
usage. |
Reference works are classified based on their format and the type
of information offered. However, titles of reference materials do
not always match their classification (for example, encyclopedias
may be titled as handbooks, bibliographies may be called guides, and
so on). As indicated below, reference works include many types of
material, and specific types of reference works are designed to offer
specific types of information.
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Almanacs
-- provide collections of data and statistics relating to states,
events, subjects, countries, and so on. Example: The Almanac
of American Employers |
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Atlases
and Maps -- give geographic and spatial information, as
well as often focusing on specific topics of geographic interest
like historical, economic, and political matters. Example: Atlas
of the World |
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Bibliographies
or Guides to the Literature -- give lists of sources
on a subject and often give helpful hints for locating additional
research materials about a topic. Example: The Ultimate Business
Library: 50 Books that Shaped Management Thinking |
| • |
Biographical
sources -- help patrons locate information about noteworthy
persons (usually in specific occupations, careers, or professions),
occur in various formats and types, and differ in depth of information
included. Example: American Inventors, Entrepreneurs, and
Business Visionaries |
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Directories
-- help people locate and/or contact organizations, companies,
people, experts, etc. by listing contact and other information
(addresses, phone numbers, names, publications, descriptions,
etc.). Example: Business Organizations, Agencies, and Publications
Directory |
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Gazetteers
-- show where specific physical features are located (e.g. a city,
mountain, river, etc.) and may offer information about population
and economic characteristics. Example: Texas Gazetteer |
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General
Encyclopedias -- give introductory information about a topic,
such as history, statistics, description, etc. Example: The Encyclopedia
Americana |
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Handbooks
and Manuals -- offer factual and statistical information,
instructions, and quick access to field-specific information
(e.g. equations, formulas, jargon, etc.). Example: The Employee
Recruitment and Retention Handbook |
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Subject
Encyclopedias -- include definitions, description, history,
and more about a specific subject, but also offer extensive
background information and bibliographies. Example: The IEBM
Handbook of Human Resource Management and
Business: The Ultimate Resource |
| • |
Subject
Dictionaries -- offer definitions and often short explanations
of terms and concepts in specific fields or disciplines. Example:
The Trainer's Dictionary: HRD Terms, Acronyms, Initials, and Abbreviations |
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Yearbooks
-- provide yearly collections of data and statistics and offer
a record of a specific year's activities by country, subject,
or other specialized area. Example: National Business Education
Yearbook |
 Books:
Purpose & Uses |
Journals:
Purpose & Uses  |
Library Orientation Site
Index
Updated 7/2004 |
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