Basic Reference Sources Script
Library Instruction
Lovejoy Library
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Revised 09/07
BANNER ID Number
Cougar Card (insert graphic)
Hours slide
Types of Research Questions
• Quick-answer
• In-depth
Quick-Answer Research Questions
• Who won the 1955 World Series?

The Brooklyn Dodgers
SOURCE: Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball


What day did Apollo 11 land on the moon?
July 20th, 1969
SOURCE: Chronology of World History


What is a parable?
A short and simple story containing a moral.
SOURCE: Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory
In-Depth Research Questions
• What are the treatments for schizophrenia?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What changes occur in plants during
photosynthesis?
• What are the major themes of The Great Gatsby?
Location of Reference Sources
• Reference Collection
• Ready Reference
• Copiers
Characteristics of Reference Sources
• Frequently updated
• Provide information in a concise manner
• Cannot be checked out of the library
Determining the Scope of
Reference Sources
• Examine the table of contents
• Examine the index
• Check the publication date
Important Features
of Reference Sources
• Bibliographies –
a list of articles
and/or books that
appear at the end of
an entry and
indicate material the
author has utilized
or recommends for
additional research.
Important Features
of Reference Sources
Signed Articles
are written by
experts in the
respective fields and
indicate the
authoritativeness of
the information in the
reference source.
Types of Reference Sources
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• Almanacs and Yearbooks
Dictionaries
• Dictionaries list the words of a
particular language
with the correct:
•
•
•
•
spelling
definition
pronunciation
grammatical usage

Types of
Dictionaries
 General
 Specific
 Subject
Dictionaries (General)
• Abridged Dictionaries –
list only a selection of words
in a particular language.
• Unabridged Dictionaries
–
attempt to include all of the
words in a particular
language and often provide
extensive information for
Abridged Dictionaries
• Merriam-Webster’s
Collegiate
Dictionaryan abridged dictionary
that includes the
definitions, etymology,
pronunciations, usage
dates and notes, and
cross-references for
over 75,000 words.
(Webster’s is also available in an electronic format)
Unabridged Dictionaries
• Oxford English
Dictionary (OED) –
an unabridged
dictionary that is the
accepted authority on the
English language and an
unsurpassed guide to the
meaning, history, usage,
and pronunciation of
millions of words, taken
from both the present and
past.
(The OED is also available in an electronic format)
Other Categories of Dictionaries
• Specialized
Dictionaries approach the study of words
from a different perspective or
examine special categories of
words.
Subject Dictionaries are devoted to a specific field
and provide definitions for
terms and subjects associated
with that field.
Specialized Dictionaries
• Bartlett’s Roget’s
Thesaurus –
A thesaurus is a
specialized dictionary
that organizes words
and concepts
thematically. For each
word contained in a
thesaurus, a list of
words with similar or
opposite meanings has
also been provided.
Subject Dictionaries
• Twentieth-Century
Literary Movements
Dictionary –
a subject dictionary that
provides definitions for and
examples of over 500
different 20th century
literary movements and
schools and identifies
individuals associated with
each school.
Encyclopedias
• Encyclopedias –
• attempt to cover knowledge
in a comprehensive
manner.
• provide general facts and
an overview of a topic or
subject.
• contain articles written by
specialists in their fields.
• include bibliographies and
illustrations with some
entries.

Types of
Encyclopedias

General
 Subject
Encyclopedias (General)
• Encyclopædia
Britannica a general encyclopedia
considered to be one of
the most comprehensive
and respected reference
products available.
(Britannica is also available in an electronic format)
Subject Encyclopedias
• Encyclopedia of
Precolonial Africa –
a subject encyclopedia
containing articles that
provide information on all
aspects of precolonial
Africa. Each article is
signed and includes a
bibliography of additional
reference material.
Almanacs and Yearbooks
• Provide information in a concise form
• Provide statistical information
• Provide coverage of events of the previous
year
Almanacs and Yearbooks

Almanac –
annual publication
containing statistics and
information about the
events of the previous
year.
• Yearbook –
report of statistics or
facts published on a
yearly basis
Almanacs
• World Almanac
(and Book of
Facts)–
contains statistics and
information about
various nations
around the world.
(World Almanac is also available in an electronic format)
Yearbooks
• Statistical Abstract
of the United
States–
contains thousands of
statistical tables for the
United States covering a
variety of social and
economic subjects.
(Statistical Abstract is also available in an electronic format)
Conclusion
• Ask if students they have any questions.
• Encourage them to feel comfortable asking
for assistance either at the Information Desk,
contacting the Instruction Office, or via our
Ask a Librarian service if they are having
difficulties.
• Reassure them everyone is willing to assist
them!