Week 5 Reference Sources

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Week 5 Reference Sources

• Instructors Lora Mirza Amy Moore
• LIST 1105 Public Services

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What Is the Reference Collection?

• It is . . .the Information Resources selected by
  the reference staff to do the reference work
• Sources may be available in any format
• Sources may be available in the Library
• or accessed from remote locations
• via the library

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Librarians build reference collections to do 3
things

• Answer information needs of librarys clientele
• Facilitate access to librarys collection
• Provide guidance to information resources beyond
  the local library collection

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What is essential for a reference collection?

• Each library unique
• Use bibliography of standard lists and tools when
  developing reference collection

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Reference Collection Guidelines or Policy may
include these

• Usefulness in answering reference questions
• Depth of coverage
• Local needs
• Format
• Frequency of use
• Mission of the parent organization
• Expected customer groups
• Other selection factors library budget,
  resources of other area libraries, evaluation of
  reference materials

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Selection of Reference Sources
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Evaluating Reference Sources

• 1. Demand Will anyone ever use this?
• 2. Aim and scope What is this works
• purpose?
• 3. Timeliness How is it updated?
• 4. Format How arranged?
• 5. Authority Reputation of author or editor?
• 6. Accuracy Information correct? Up to date?

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Electronic Reference Sources

• How stable is the site?
• How easy is the electronic
• source to use?
• How reliable are the hardware and software?
• Is the electronic source compatible with existing
  sources?
• Are help screens useful?

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Book Review Journals

• Provide reviews by those
• knowledgeable in the field
• Major review journals
• Library Journal
• Choice
• School Library Journal
• These now include reviews of CD-ROMS and Internet
  Sources

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Other Reference Collection Tools

• Standing Orders
• Placed with publishers to assure
• new volumes and editions of particular
• titles will be sent to the library when
  published
• Example Dictionary of Literary Biography
• Approval Plans guarantee books fitting
  selection criteria
• Example NY Times bestsellers

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Support Staff have role in selecting reference
materials

• Make recommendations for purchase
• Notify other reference staff about hard-to-answer
  reference questions
• Share useful Internet sites with others

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Types of Reference Materials

• General Categories
• Bibliographies
• Dictionaries
• Directories
• Encyclopedias, gazetteers and atlases
• Handbooks and manuals
• Biographical sources
• Pamphlets collections
• Yearbooks and almanacs
• Indexes

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Types of Reference Materialscontinued

• Periodicals and Periodical Indexes
• Periodical article often contain the most current
  information available on a topic
• Periodicals contain information about almost
  every conceivable topic, often in greater detail
  than can be found elsewhere
• Periodicals are the primary means for
  communicating original scholarship in all fields
  of human enquiry

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Types of Reference Materialscontinued

• The Library Catalog
• Also called PAC (Public access catalog) or
• OPAC (online public access catalog)
• Most important reference source
• other than the reference staff!
• Evolved . . From Book Catalog to Card Catalog to
  Online Catalog
• American Card catalogs traditionally offer access
  to books by author, title, and subjects
• A set of filing rules helps libraries be
  consistent
• (when to ignore A, An, and The,
  etc.)

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Types of Reference Materials

• The Online Catalog continued
• Online catalog since 1980s
• usually are one element in librarys integrated
  online system, which includes circulation,
  cataloging, acquisitions, serials, and reserve
  functionsall of which can be linked
• Online catalogs present difficulties
• Power failures
• Computer problems
• Some libraries still use card catalogs

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Types of Reference Materialscontinued

• The Internet as a Reference Resource
• Primary use by librarians is to access remote
  databases containing desired information
• World Wide Web, with links, has improved access
  using the Internet
• Improved search services

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Automation and Reference Sources

• Online Databases
• CD-ROM Resources
• The Internet

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Know Your Collections, also Limitations

• In-house Resources
• Reference to Outside Sources and Other Libraries
• Requirements for Outside Referral
• Information and Referral Service

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Mediated Online Searching

• Mediated Online Searching Online searching of
  commercial databases by the librarian
• End-user Searching Online searching of
  commercial databases by library users

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Ethical Issues

• Best quality reference service requires knowledge
  of both print and online resources
• Keep an open perspective on controversial topics
• Provide a variety of sources
• To charge or not to charge ethical debate
  continue

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Security Matters and Preservation

• Keep materials vulnerable to theft or vandalism
  near the reference desk
• Demonstrate to users proper handling of materials
  
• Practice consistent shelving habits
• Look for telltale wear and needed repairs or
  replacement

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Summary

• The reference staff is a necessary adjunct to the
  reference collection
• Besides print sources housed in the library,
  reference sources now include sources accessed
  anywhere in the world
• Traditional print sources now aided by automation
• Internet searching becomes easier each day
• Navigating the Internet along with the library
  catalog may be most important reference skill for
  staff to master
• Staff also need to know community and public
  agencies and other libraries
• Networks are consortia of libraries have
  cooperative agreements
• Mediated online searching extends reference
  service
• Libraries pay for access to commercial databases