Choosing Resources for
Information
Resources to choose from• Almanacs
• Atlas
• Internet
• Live interview
• Periodicals
• Encyclopedias
• Dictionary
• Library online catalog
An almanac contains facts such
as weather, population, currency,
and geographical data.
ALMANACS
• Use an almanac when you are looking for current statistical
data and basic information about a topic.
• Almanacs are published annually (each year). They include upto-date (current) statistics lists, charts, and tables of useful
information on many different topics. They may also include
maps and color plates of national flags.
• When do I use an almanac?
Use an almanac when you need up-to-date information (e.g.,
what the flag of a specific country looks like or what the
population of a specific country is), especially when you need a
list of things (e.g., academy award winners or first ladies) or to
compare things (e.g., the highest mountain, the longest river).
Example: If you need the most current population of Egypt by cities, find Egypt
as the main heading listed in the general index, This will tell you the page to
turn to for the information. Then find the subheading Population.
An almanac is usually arranged by topics
.
An atlas contains maps and most
atlases also have mileage
indicators.
The Internet contains current
information on many topics,
including current weather.
It also has online
encyclopedias and other types
of resources.
A live interview provides a firsthand account of a person's
experiences.
Periodicals are publications which are issued at regular
intervals, such as journals, magazines, and newspapers.
The Advantages of Using Periodicals
Because they are published frequently, periodicals are the best sources
for current information.
Current events are usually discussed in periodicals long before they
become the subject of a book.
Periodicals often contain information on the latest trends, products,
research and theories.
Periodicals exist for every field and every interest, providing access to a
variety of hard-to find information.
Due to the shorter length of periodical articles, more topics may be
covered within one volume of a periodical than in one book.
The newspaper gives the most
current daily news such as
current events, sports
information, and daily weather.
The encyclopedia has
information on many general
topics and people in history.
The dictionary will give correct
spellings of words, their
meanings and how to
pronounce a word.
A library automation program
will give you the names of
authors, titles of books
available and a listing of books
available in the library.
Let’s Play a Game
• Choose the best resource for
the information needed.
• Jessica wants to know what the
weather is like in Minneapolis,
Minnesota today. What resource should
she use?
• Newspaper
• Encyclopedia
• Dictionary
• Library Automation Program
• Andrew has a report due on American
Presidents. What resource should he use?
• Newspaper
• Live interview
• Encyclopedia
• Atlas
• Laura needs to find the meaning of the
word “confused". What resource should
she use?
• Almanac
• Atlas
• Dictionary
• Library Automation Program
• Matt loves to follow the Los Angeles
Lakers. He wants to know the score for
the game last night. What resource
should he use?
• Newspaper
• Encyclopedia
• Almanac
• Atlas
• Chris wants to know about the US
Presidents in order. What resource
should he use?
• Newspaper
• Almanac
• Dictionary
• Atlas
• Tanya loves to read books by Sharon
Creech. What resource should she use
to find books written by the author?
• Interview
• Almanac
• Library automation program
• Dictionary
• Johnny is interested in reading about
some adventures in science. What
resource should he use?
• Dictionary
• Science Magazine
• Library automation
• Almanac
• Justin’s family is buying a Siamese Cat.
He needs information on this type of
cat. What resource should he use?
• Dictionary
• Internet
• Newspaper
• Almanac
• Claudia needs to find out how to
pronounce a word. What resource
should she use?
• Dictionary
• Atlas
• Almanac
• Television
• Spencer wants to find out about the
earthquake in Hawaii this morning.
What resource should he use?
• Encyclopedia
• Internet
• Atlas
• Almanac
• Susan is doing a report on Hawaii and
needs to know a quick fact - what is the
State Flower. Where should she look
first?
• Dictionary
• Television
• Almanac
• Newspaper
• Ben needs to know the distance
between Paris and Madrid. What
resource should he use first?
• Personal interview
• Newspaper
• Encyclopedia
• Internet
• Marc wants the latest medical news
about headaches. Which of the
following would provide him with the
latest research information?
• Books
• Internet
• Atlas
• Newspaper
• Pat is doing research on tigers and
wants to read a good general
background article on the animal.
Where should he look?
• Newspaper
• Almanac
• Encyclopedia
• Interview with someone that's been to a
zoo and seen a tiger
• Carol wants to know what it would be
like to be a teacher. Where should she
turn?
• Dictionary
• An interview with a teacher
• Encyclopedia
• Educational journal
• Joe wants to know what time the moon
rises today. The information seems to
change daily. Where should he go for
information?
• Encyclopedia
• Reference book on parks
• Local newspaper
• Almanac