1. Directories, Almanacs, Yearbooks LIS 704 Summer 2009 Reference & Online Resources

2. The evolution of reference resources By tradition and practice, reference resources either answer a question, or lead to other places where the answer might be found. By tradition and practice, reference resources either answer a question, or lead to other places where the answer might be found. Usually reference resources are developed by librarians, experts, publishers, organizations, public agencies, or other interested parties Usually reference resources are developed by librarians, experts, publishers, organizations, public agencies, or other interested parties By library tradition and practice, reference resources are usually organized into types of collections: “ready” and “regular” By library tradition and practice, reference resources are usually organized into types of collections: “ready” and “regular”

3. Landscape of Reference Resources Directories, Almanacs, Yearbooks Directories, Almanacs, Yearbooks Quick facts, simple questions, confirmation of data, overview of an event Quick facts, simple questions, confirmation of data, overview of an event Biographical Sources, Dictionaries Biographical Sources, Dictionaries More details on individuals; more complexity on words, topics, and issues. first level of contextualization More details on individuals; more complexity on words, topics, and issues. first level of contextualization Encyclopedias, Geographic Sources Encyclopedias, Geographic Sources Next level of details on topics, giving much information context within time or space; second level of contextualization Next level of details on topics, giving much information context within time or space; second level of contextualization Indexes, Abstracts Indexes, Abstracts Overview is minimal; subject terms, boolean searching, concept linking dominate. User must bring much of the contextualization to the table. Overview is minimal; subject terms, boolean searching, concept linking dominate. User must bring much of the contextualization to the table. Specialized Sources Specialized Sources All kinds of reference tools that demand an expert’s perspective to know how to use. For instance, i.e. Chemical/Biological/Radiological Incident Handbook. All kinds of reference tools that demand an expert’s perspective to know how to use. For instance, i.e. Chemical/Biological/Radiological Incident Handbook.Chemical/Biological/Radiological Incident Handbook.Chemical/Biological/Radiological Incident Handbook.

4. Aspects of Authority Publisher/Author reputation; respect; expertise Publisher/Author reputation; respect; expertise When (or how often) the source is issued When (or how often) the source is issued How many other libraries collect the source How many other libraries collect the source Is the source on a “core” list of material for a particular library, collection, subject area; i.e. “Women's Studies: Core Books (ACRL/WSS)” Is the source on a “core” list of material for a particular library, collection, subject area; i.e. “Women's Studies: Core Books (ACRL/WSS)” “Women's Studies: Core Books (ACRL/WSS)” “Women's Studies: Core Books (ACRL/WSS)” Cost and overall expense of the source Cost and overall expense of the source

5. General; Special Almanacs Answer.com -- http://www.answers.com/topic/almanac?cat=t echnology Answer.com -- http://www.answers.com/topic/almanac?cat=t echnology http://www.answers.com/topic/almanac?cat=t echnology http://www.answers.com/topic/almanac?cat=t echnology Wikipedia’s Perspective: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_almanacs Wikipedia’s Perspective: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_almanacs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_almanacs

6. General; Special Yearbooks Answers.com: http://www.answers.com/Yearbooks Answers.com: http://www.answers.com/Yearbooks http://www.answers.com/Yearbooks Encyclopedia Yearbooks Encyclopedia Yearbooks Association Yearbooks Association Yearbooks Professional Organization Yearbooks Professional Organization Yearbooks Specialist Yearkbooks Specialist Yearkbooks

7. General; Special Directories Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/ Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org/http://dmoz.org/ Telephone and City Directories in the Library of Congress: Current Directories http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/bib_guid/tel ephon.html Telephone and City Directories in the Library of Congress: Current Directories http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/bib_guid/tel ephon.html http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/bib_guid/tel ephon.html http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/bib_guid/tel ephon.html

8. Other ways of finding reference sources Using the Library of Congress Subject Headings "Handbooks manuals etc.“ ; Yearbooks Using the Library of Congress Subject Headings "Handbooks manuals etc.“ ; Yearbooks Oxford Reference Online: http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/GL OBAL.html?authstatuscode=202 Oxford Reference Online: http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/GL OBAL.html?authstatuscode=202 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/GL OBAL.html?authstatuscode=202 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/GL OBAL.html?authstatuscode=202