Table of Contents

Module 5: Reference resources (Reference Excellence)

Effective reference work requires an awareness of resources

Where are the answers?

Some reference work requires locating quick facts. Many searches are more complex, and require consulting a variety of resources, either in print and online.

Module 5 helps you learn about reference resources.

You will learn:

Examining resources

Criteria for evaluating resources

Once you have clarified and verified the patron's question, you need to find the information or assist the patron to find the information.

Evaluation criteria for information resources:

Is this resource appropriate?

When examining a resource consider the following: -

It can be beneficial to examine one or two reference resources in your collection regularly.

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

Exercises for '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.

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.

Module 5 Answers and review

Using the catalogue

The library catalogue can be your most effective reference tool.

The library catalogue

You can view a library catalogue as a small search engine which helps you find library resources in different ways. It's both a good beginning to your strategy and a resource in itself. It is useful in several ways.

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

Exercises for 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 results list: -

  1. Narrow the search to list only travel guides
  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 the Harry Potter Series. How many items are in the series?

3. Can you search your library catalogue for a DVD released last year? How many does your library hold?

Module 5 Answers and review

Types of resources

There are some good places to start in addition to the catalogue. The information need identified in the reference interview determines the type (format) of resource needed.

Search strategies can be applied regardless of the format of the information.

Brief descriptions of the basic types of resources available in the library or online are provided here.

Subject headings for resource types

Subject headings in the catalogue will indicate the type (form) of a resource. Many resources can be located quickly by doing a catalogue keyword search that combines your topic along with resource types such as atlas, encyclopedias, or dictionaries, or for example:

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

Exercises for 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

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 results 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.

Module 5 Answers and review

Dewey Decimal Classification

Library organisation

Once you know what type of resource you need and the topic, how do you locate the materials in the library? Are the resources in your library arranged using Dewey Decimal Classification or another classification?

Familiarise yourself with the organisation of materials in the library. This helps you locate a particular resource but will also allow you to go quickly to the best area for browsing the shelves in the reference collection or throughout the library.

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

The 100 Divisions

Most public libraries arrange their non-fiction collections on their shelves using Dewey Decimal Classification. This is a numerical arrangement which puts books on the same subject together on the shelves. Letters relating to the item, or the specific collection may also form part of the call number.

Libraries may use broader subject rooms or themes to arrange their collections, as used by some bookshops.

Some libraries, especially larger ones and academic libraries, use a different classification developed by the Library of Congress. It uses a combination of letters and numbers, and you may see this used on books you borrow from other libraries.

DDC major subdivisions

For information about the history and use of Dewey Decimal Classification and the expanded DDC table, consult the OCLC web site:

Generalities

Philosophy

Religion

Social sciences

Languages

Pure sciences

Technology (applied sciences)

Arts

Literature (belles-lettres)

General geography & history

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

Exercises for Dewey Decimal Classification

1. How many places in your library can you locate resources that have a DDC number in the 900s? What are the different locations?

2. The shelving in the 500's has been replaced, and you are to re-shelve the resources. The resources have the following spine labels. Please put the labels in a shelf list order. The collection is integrated - so Junior Non-Fiction are integrated with Non-Fiction.

  1. 572.86 HEN
  2. 578.680994 STE
  3. J567.90994 AUS
  4. J567.91 GRA
  5. 572.86 HEN
  6. 578.68 WIL
  7. J572.4358 COL
  8. 567.90994 RIC

Module 5 Answers and review

Module 5 Answers and review

Module 5 Answers and review

Other modules for Reference Excellence

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