Reference Worksheet #3
Answering Questions about People’s Lives
and Governments
Dawn Vontz
Reference Materials & Service
ILS-504-S70
Professor Dr. Elsie A. Okobi
April 6, 2012
Dawn Vontz
Reference Materials & Service
ILS-504-S70
Reference Worksheet #3 Questions
April 6, 2012
Reference Worksheet #3 Questions
Answer the following reference questions using the appropriate reference tools.
For each question:
 State the question
 Analyze the question – What type of question is it?
 Document your search strategy
 Name of the resource in which you found the answer (Full Bibliographic Citation)
 Provide the answer to the question
Question
Can you find biographical information on gun control activist Sarah Brady?
Question Type
For this question about events in Sarah Brady’s life, a biographical source is the best
source for information.
Search Strategy
For this question I chose one of the sources that I evaluated for the other part of this
assignment. Entries are listed alphabetically so I searched for Brady, Sarah.
Resource Citation
Thompson, C. (Ed.). (1996). Current Biography Yearbook. New York: The H.W. Wilson
Company.
Answer
This source includes a biographical account of the life of United States gun control
activist Sarah Jane Kemp Brady. From her childhood to disappointments, successes,
personal background, including marriage to former Ronald Reagan presidential press
secretary James Brady, experiences, educational attainment, effectiveness that has made
her a thorn in the side of the National Rifle Association, excitement as members of
Washington, D.C.'s political and social elite.
Question
Where can I find information about American Association of Museums? How many
members do they currently have? Provide the names of the officers.
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Dawn Vontz
Reference Materials & Service
ILS-504-S70
Reference Worksheet #3 Questions
April 6, 2012
Question Type
This question calls for a directory of the American Association of Museums.
Search Strategy
By searching for “American Association of Museums” I was quickly able to locate their
official website. At the site’s homepage I clicked on “About AAM” and found the
number of members. Then I clicked on “Staff Directory.”
Resource Citation
About AAM. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2012, from American Association of Museums:
http://www.aam-us.org/aboutaam/
Answer
The American Association of Museums (AAM) has its own official up-to-date website at
http://www.aam-us.org. The AAM currently represent more than 18,000 individual
museum professionals and volunteers. AAM is governed by a Board of Directors
comprised of a chair, vice chair, immediate past chair and 21 members-at-large. Douglas
G. Myers is the Chair of the Board. Meme Umogbai is the Vice Chair. The Immediate
Past Chair is Cari R. Nold.
Question
Where can I find a biographical sketch of computer scientist Donald Knuth?
Question Type
This type of question about the events in a person’s life calls for a biographical source.
Search Strategy
Entries are arranged alphabetically so I searched for Knuth, Donald. The entry offers
basic biographical information about the individual. It gives the name, date of birth
and death (if the person is dead, which Knuth is not), occupations, nationality, and a
brief synopsis on the person’s notability.
Resource Citation
Crystal, D. (Ed.) (1994). The Cambridge biographical encyclopedia. New York,NY:
Cambridge University Press
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Dawn Vontz
Reference Materials & Service
ILS-504-S70
Reference Worksheet #3 Questions
April 6, 2012
Answer
A biographical sketch of Donald Ervin Knuth, (born Jan. 10, 1938, Milwaukee, Wis.,
U.S.), American mathematician and computer scientist, can be found in this reference
source.
Question
How many DUI accidents were there in the U.S. last year? How many resulted in
fatalities?
Question Type
This is a statistical type of question that calls for a government publication.
Search Strategy
For this question I chose to search the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
website. I then clicked on “Motor Vehicle Safety.” A featured article is titled “Drinking
and Driving: A Threat to Everyone.” I clicked on “learn more”.
Resource Citation
CDC Vital Signs. (2011, October). Retrieved April 5, 2012, from Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/drinkinganddriving/?s_cid=vitalsigns-092-bb
Answer
The “latest findings” that I found on this site were from 2009. U.S. adults drank too
much and got caught behind the wheel about 112 million times in 2010. Alcoholimpaired drivers are involved in about 1 in 3 crash deaths, resulting in nearly
11,000 deaths in 2009.
Question
What were the highlights of Sir Anthony Panizzi's career as a librarian?
Question Type
This type of question involving highlights from a person’s life who was in the literary
field can best be answered with a specialized biographical resource.
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Dawn Vontz
Reference Materials & Service
ILS-504-S70
Reference Worksheet #3 Questions
April 6, 2012
Search Strategy
I decided to use the reference source titled The Dictionary of Literary Biography. Entries
are arranged alphabetically so I searched by surname Panizzi.
Resource Citation
(2000). Sir Anthony Panizzi. In Dictionary of Literary Biography. Detroit, Michigan:
Gale Research Co.
Answer
In 1837, Sir Anthony Panizzi started his career as Keeper of Printed Books at the British
Museum and he transformed it over 30 years into the premier research facility in the
world. He redesigned the library’s catalog (1841) and was influential in enforcing the
Copyright Act of 1842. For his extraordinary services as a librarian, in 1869 he was
knighted by Queen Victoria.
Question
I would like to find information about former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder. What
position does she currently hold?
Question Type
This question involves Congress and can best be answered with a government
publication.
Search Strategy
For this question I searched the CQ Press database using the search phrase “Patricia
Schroeder”. CQ Press publishes books, directories, periodicals, and electronic products
on American government and politics.
Resource Citation
Adams, R. (2009, May 4). Five Questions for Patricia Schroeder, Retired President of the
Association of American Publishers. CQ Weekly - Vantage Point. Washington, D.C.
Retrieved April 5, 2012, from http://0library.cqpress.com.www.consuls.org/cqweekly/weeklyreport111-000003108668
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Dawn Vontz
Reference Materials & Service
ILS-504-S70
Reference Worksheet #3 Questions
April 6, 2012
Answer
For twelve years after her time spent as a Congresswoman, Patricia Schroder served as
the President of the Association of American Publishers. She retired in 2009 and now
holds the position of “grandmother” in Celebration, FL.
Question
I'm an admirer of flautist James Galway and would like to know more about him.
Question Type
This is a question about a person’s life so it requires the use of a biographical source.
Search Strategy
Because I knew he was a famous musician, I decided to try a basic search on
www.biography.com for “James Galway”.
Resource Citation
Sir James Galway. (2012). Biography.com. Retrieved 10:52, Apr 06, 2012 from
http://www.biography.com/people/james-galway-9305726
Answer
This source is a great reference for someone looking to learn more about flautist James
Galway. The biography includes a biographical entry, a photograph, quick facts, profile
connections, and information on what he is “best known for.” Sir James Galway is a
world-renowned Irish flautist. After studying formally for a number of years, Galway
pursued a career as an orchestral flautist. In 1975, he embarked on a solo career.
Question
How many people over the age of 65 are there in the United States today?
Question Type
This type of question can best be answered using a government publication.
Search Strategy
For statistics like these from a reliable source, I chose to search www.census.gov. I
completed a simple search for “over age 65” and was taken to a list of over 3,000
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Dawn Vontz
Reference Materials & Service
ILS-504-S70
Reference Worksheet #3 Questions
April 6, 2012
documents. The first document titled “The Older Population” seemed relevant and did
in-fact contain the answer.
Resource Citation
The Older Population: 2010 Census Briefs. (2011, November). Retrieved April 4, 2012,
from Census Bureau Homepage: http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br09.pdf
Answer
Of the 308,745,538 people living in the United States in 2010, 40,267,984 were above the
age of 65, according to the United States Census Bureau. That’s 13% of the total
population.
Question
Which of the Great Lakes is the largest?
Question Type
This type of question can best be answered and actually shown via a map to the patron
using a geographical source.
Search Strategy
For this question I chose one of the sources that we evaluated. Entries are listed
alphabetically so I began the search by looking up “Lakes”.
Resource Citation
The Columbia Gazetteer of the World. 3 vols. New York: Columbia University Press,
1998.
Answer
Lake Superior covers the most surface area and contains the most water.
Question
How can I find the Monthly Catalog of Government Publications?
Question Type
This question requires a government information source.
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Dawn Vontz
Reference Materials & Service
ILS-504-S70
Reference Worksheet #3 Questions
April 6, 2012
Search Strategy
By completing a search for “Monthly Catalog of Government Publications” I was quickly
able to locate a government resource titled Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
(CGP). The CGP was originally the online counterpart of the Monthly Catalog of United
States Government Publications, which had been printed since the passage of the Printing
Act of 1895. The print version of the Monthly Catalog was discontinued with the
December 2004 edition. The CGP is updated daily.
Resource Citation
(n.d.). (S. o. Documents, Producer, & U.S. Government Printing Office) Retrieved April
4, 2012, from The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications: http://catalog.gpo.gov/F
Answer
http://catalog.gpo.gov is a catalog of U.S. Government publications. It is a free resource
available online.
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