Module 5 Reference resources (Reference Excellence)

Suggested answers for Module 5 exercises - Discuss the questions and your answers with your supervisor, trainer or colleagues.

Is this resource appropriate?

1. Use a ready reference book (like a dictionary) from the library collection. Examine the book and identify each of these parts.

• Author, Title, Volume, Edition, Series, Place of Publication, Publisher's Name, Date of Publication
• Foreword or Preface
• Table of Contents
• Introduction or Instructions for Use
• Text
• Appendix, Glossary, or Index
• Special features such as charts, graphs, photos

2. Describe the purpose, authority, scope, audience, and format of the resource?

3. Choose another reference book, one you haven't used before, and answer questions 1 and 2 for that book.

4. Answer question 2 (above) in relation to a government website.

How easy was it to find the parts of the book? Was it easier finding the parts on the website?

Using the Catalogue

1. Search for information on a country in Europe you would like to visit. Use a keyword search in your library catalogue.

Once you have a result s list: -

1. Narrow the search to list only countries in the European Union
2. Use a 'subject heading' in one of the items in your results list to obtain information about one particular country
3. Refine your search to only list non-book items in the collection that satisfy your search

2. Use the advanced search option to look for a series of books that are about either travel, the country of your choice, or written by a European author. - this can be a fiction or non-fiction series

3. Use the call number search in the catalogue to locate items on

1. pruning fruit trees,
2. learning crochet and
3. growing tomatoes.

Talk with your supervisor about your experience in locating and using these resources.

Types of resources

1. Identify one of each of the following in your library or online: atlas, dictionary, directory and encyclopaedia.

2. Cite the resources that contain information about your local area.

3. Use Google Advanced to find information on

• a recent current event
• an authoritative free online tutorial
• an authoritative article on breast cancer

How many features did you use in the advanced search mode?

For website searches, you can filter for language, region, last updated date, site or domain, terms appearing, SafeSearch, reading level, file type, and usage rights. Image searches can be filtered by size, aspect ratio, color, type, site or domain, filetype, SafeSearch, and usage rights.

4. Undertake a detailed information search using one of your library's online databases. Use the quick search or keyword search to locate information about 'weather'.

Once you have a result s list: -

1. Narrow the search to list information only about cyclones
2. Use a 'subject heading' in one of the items in your results list to obtain information about a particular aspect of cyclones
3. Refine your search to only list works published in the past three (3) years.
4. Click on the 'cite' function in the database and record the Harvard or AP6 citation of one journal article.

How easy was for you to find these different reference items? Did you try different citation methods?

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

1. 1. How many places in your library can you locate resources in the 900s? What are the locations?

You may have located numbers in reference, children's, DVDs, adult non-fiction, etc. Your library may have other collections arranged by DDC.

1. 2. The correct order is as follows:-

1. J567.90994 AUS
2. 567.90994 RIC
3. J567.91 GRA
4. J572.4358 COL
5. 572.86 HEN
6. 578.68 WIL
7. 578.680994 STE

Know the types of reference tools available to you and when they are useful. Examining and evaluating resources and keeping up with new resources is critical to providing current, accurate information to patrons. Become familiar with essential reference resources, and know how to use the catalogue to locate other sources. A basic understanding of the arrangement of your library will help you find materials on the shelves.

Suggestions for examining, evaluating and locating resources also apply to online resources and other online resources in your library and to the electronic databases available through NSWnet.

Examining resources

Major Point: Think of all the resources in your library and online as potential reference sources. Be able to evaluate them.

Using the catalogue

The catalogue can be your most effective reference tool. The catalogue is an organised list of the library's collection and helps you find resources in different ways.

Major Point: The catalogue is a good place to start your search.

Types of resources

Different types or kinds of resources serve very different purposes.

Major Point: Know what different types of resources are available in the library and online

Dewey Decimal Classification

Library resources are often arranged by Dewey Decimal Classification. Understand what subjects are represented by the classification numbers. The Ten Main Classes of Dewey Decimal Classification are:

000 Computer science, information & general works 100 Philosophy & psychology 200 Religion 300 Social sciences 400 Language 500 Science 600 Technology 700 Arts & Recreation 800 Literature 900 History

Major Point: Understanding Dewey Decimal Classification will help you find resources.

What to do when you finish the module…

When you have completed the exercises for this module, you may want to talk to your supervisor, trainer or colleagues about them.

Please fill out and submit the evaluation form

Reference Excellence - self paced reference and information services training

About Reference Excellence

Module 1 Overview of the reference process

Module 2 Reference interview skills and question types

Module 3 People skills, reference behaviours

Module 4 Search strategies

Module 5 Reference resources

Module 6 Ethics and legislation

Module 7 Roving reference

Module 8 Local studies

Module 9 Family history

Module 10 Children

Module 11 Young adults

Module 12 Corporate library services

Module 13 Technology reference services