Resources:
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Constructing an Information Resource Guide
Using these directions, you will be able to prepare a Resource Guide to your major or primary minor area of academic study. The Resource Guide will 1) help you, and possibly other students, identify resources in a broad area of study and 2) list specific tools and sources in a given library (such as Buley Library) that may help locate books, magazine, journal, and newspaper articles for research in this area. Set aside a specific day and time each week for completing each step. Using the outline below, it should take 13 weeks (or a semester) to complete your Information Resource Guide. An outline of the final guide contains examples of a title and abstract for your guide.
Week One: Getting Acquainted
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Contact the library you will be using during this exercise. Meet at least one Reference Librarian, introduce yourself and tell them you are a student at Southern and constructing, on your own, a Resource Guide to use in your studies at Southern. Ask for 1) a copy of the library's hours of operation and the rules and regulations for patrons and 2) an orientation tour of the library.
In your guide, record a narrative of this visit. Be sure to include the date of your visit, the name of the library, and the name of the librarian(s) you met. Title this entry "LIBRARY ORIENTATION VISIT." This is a good place to include a copy of the library's hours of operation and the rules and regulations for patrons and any additional materials or information about the library and its use you obtained during your visit and tour. Some students like compare how they felt about a project before it began and after it was completed. If you would like to do this, this section might be a good place to write a narrative describing what you expect to gain from this activity, your feelings about using the library, and why you chose to do this project. You may want to mark this entry with the title "BEGINNING REFLECTIONS."
Week Two: Getting Friendly with the Classes and Cats
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Libraries use classification systems to provide a basis for organizing book and materials so that they can be found quickly and easily by those who use them. The two major classification systems are the Library of Congress Classification System and the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Classifications are recorded as letters and/or numbers on the spine of a book. An example of a Dewey Classification is 621.389324. An example of an LC Classification is PN 6519.J3. Some libraries use just one classification system and some libraries use more than one. If you think of the shelves (or stacks) in the library as a system of roads, the classification number on a books spine then becomes the street address by which you can find the book.
Libraries also use a categorization system called subject headings to describe the contents of a work. Subject headings may be determined by the forms of the work (dictionary), location (U.S.), or subject (Social life and customs). Subject headings are used in card catalogues to help patrons locate information. If you think of the catalogue as the yellow pages in a phone book, then the subject heading becomes the business classifications (like Auto Dealers-New Cars or Insurance or Tire Recap, Retread & Repair).
It is very helpful to know the classification notations and the subject headings that are used in the library to categorize and store the information you most frequently need.
Visit your library. Explore the shelves to discover the type of classification system used in that library. Find the general class number for your academic major or primary academic minor. Ask the reference librarian to help you find Subject Headings used for your academic major/minor.
In your guide, record the date of your visit and a narrative about your experience and findings and feelings during this visit. Title this entry "CLASSES AND SUBJECTS IN MY MAJOR/MINOR."
While looking at the books, check out the parts of the book (binding, preliminary pages, text, auxiliary or reference material). Books are organized within a set of standards as this contributes to the usefulness of the book and to the ease of use by the reader. Be sure to notice that while the title or name of the work, the author's name and name of person who wrote the introduction, if other than the author, can be found on the title (or full title) page, the copyright is not. It is found on the back (or verso title) of the title page. (Some books have a half title page in front of the title page. It contains just the title of the work.)
Week Three: Meeting the Uncheckables
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Visit your library. Using the class numbers you found last week, locate the books in the REFERENCE SECTION of the library's collection. (If you are not sure where the Reference Section is located, ask one of the librarians.) Look over the books you find under this class number.
In your guide enter a narrative describing your visit. Be sure to include the date of your visit. Title this entry "THE REFERENCE COLLECTION."
Week Four: Getting to the Meanings
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This week you will look for dictionaries specific to your subject area.
In your Guide you will give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Enter your work in your journal. Title the journal entry "GUIDE - DICTIONARIES."
All dictionaries are not the same. They can differ in the range of words they define and in the kinds of information they give about each word. Two main types of dictionaries are Dictionaries for general use and Dictionaires for special use.
Examples of Dictionaries for general use are:
- Defining dictionaires: a general purpose dictionary that excludes proper names, obsolete and dialetal words and only touches on slang and abbreviations.
- Encyclopedic dictionaries: includes entries for famous people and institutions and also important places; it defines terms in the arts and sciences and contains illustrations.
- Dictionaries of abbreviations: contains abbreviations and acronyms (a 'word,' such as 'NATO,' formed from the initial letters of other words).
Examples of Dictionaries for special use are:
- Learners' dictionaries: developed for foreign students of the language.
- Historical dictionaries: includes how words have been used since they entered the langage and may give examples.The Oxford English Dictionary is an exampe of an historical dictionary.
- Slang dictionaries: contains jargon and phrases peculiar to certain occupations or groups or regions.
- Dialect dictionaries: generally deal with the dialects of paricular regions.
- Subject dictionaries: contains terms used in particular trades and professions (for example, The Librarian's Glossary and Reference Book by Ray Prytherch). [NOTE: Be sure to locate any subject dictionaries in your major area of study and add these to your Resource Guide.]
- Glossaries: a dictionary of words not part of present-day standard vocabulary.
- Dictionaries of synonyms: gives terms of the same general meaning; generally coupled with antonyms (a term opposite in meaning).
- Thesauri: a classification of words and phrases of similar meaning intended to help writers find the word or words eith the exact shade of meaning they want for a particular composition. [NOTE: the terms used to classify books and other library materials can be found in thesauri -- they are intended to help the seeker locate the best terms for entering into online or print catalogs when looking for books, articles, etc.]
A very small sample of dictionaries available online:
Even the same kinds of dictionaries differ considerably in portability, durability, legibility, understandability, and finding aids. It is important to explore a number of different dictionaries and find the one that is best suited to you for your current needs. An individual's need in dictionaries changes over time. If you are using the same dictionary you had at the beginning of high school, it might be time to start shopping for a new one.
Dictionaries of quotation and concordances
A dictionary of quotations are collections of striking observations from many sources. They identify the authors of the quotations and some also give the location. Dictionaries of quotations vary in scope and arrangement. Some arrange quotation alphabetically by authors, some chronologically by author, and others alphabetically by subject.
A concordance is defined as an alphabetical arrangement of the principal words contained in a book, with citations of the passages in which they occur. Most concordances, however, are an index to the writings of individual authors of classic works.
Week Five: Covering a Lot in a Little
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This week you are to identify and examine encyclopedias in your area of study.
Give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Place your work in your journal. Title the entry "RESOURCE GUIDE - ENCYCLOPEDIAS."
'Encyclopedia' derives from a Greek word meaning 'a complete circle of learning.' The purpose or function of an encyclopedia is to synthesize existing knowledge in a form that can be retrieved easily. 'Encyclopedias' go under a variety of names, including 'encyclopedcia,' 'dictionary' (usually small-scale subject encyclopedias), 'companion,' and even 'yearbook.'
An encyclopedia is a good starting place when you need to write a paper on something that you know little about. An entry about the subject in an encyclopedia while give you a broad understanding of the subject as well as a sense of the vocabulary that is used to talk about that subject. It is a good idea to make a working 'glossary' of the new terms and look up their meaning in a general or subject dictionary. The special language and names of people in the entry may prove excellent clues to subject headings that can be used to find books and articles on the subject or some aspect of it.
Generally, it is not a good idea to use an encyclopedia as a primary information resource. Rather, use it as a mini-course in the subject and then find books and articles, using the vocabulary found in the encyclopedia, to gain the information you will use in your paper. You may want to return to encyclopedias from time to time to help put new information found in books and articles in context.
A few encyclopedias available online:
Week Six: Having the Right Keys
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This week you are to identify and examine indexes in your area of study.
Give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Place your work in your journal. Title the entry "RESOURCE GUIDE - INDEXES."
Indexes are a tool for bibliographic control of sources such as contributions to periodicals, periodicals themselves, newspapers, book chapters, and conference proceedings.
Most items on an established subject will appear in the periodicals, books, and proceedings expressly devoted to it. But not always. Valuable articles on a subject can turn up in very unexpected places. Indexes help you turn up those unexpected places.
It is important to know the subject indexes for your field (such as Current Technology Index) as well as citation indexes (such as the Social Science Citation Index), and abstracts (such as Psychological Abstracts).
If your college or university does not have access to Citation Indexes, it is generally worth your time and effort, especially if you are writing a major paper such as an Honors Thesis, to find a college or university that does and will let you use them (and show you how to use the various volumes).
A few online indexes:
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This week you are to identify and examine bibliographical dictionaries relevant to your area of study.
Give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Place your work in your journal. Title the entry "RESOURCE GUIDE - BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONAIRES."
There is a constant demand for biographical information in libraries. There are three factors concerning notable persons that are sought: time, place, and occupation. While biographical dictionaries can provide you with much of this information, there are other sources that you could use. Biographical information can also be found in encyclopedias, yearbooks, obituaries.
Biographical dictionaries available online:
Week Eight: Maps with and without Roads
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This week you are to identify and examine atlases and gazetteers relevant to your area of study.
Give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Place your work in your journal. Title the entry "RESOURCE GUIDE - ATLASES/GAZETTEERS."
The advantages of atlases are that the maps can be kept in sequence and can be more conveniently indeed than a collection of sheet maps. They can also be augmented more easily with explanatory texts.
The term gazetteer has two meanings. It can mean either the index to an atlas or a separately published reference work which provides information on places -- of the world, of a paricular country, or a region -- under their names in alphabetical order.
Examples of atlases and gazetteers available online:
Week Nine: Annuals that need no Planting
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This week you are to identify and examine yearbooks, handbooks and almanacs in your area of study.
Give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Place your work in your journal. Title the entry "RESOURCE GUIDE - YEARBOOKS/HANDBOOKS."
The term 'yearbook' is used by publishers for a variety of reference works published annually, and even for some which are not. 'Handbooks are reference works that cover a broad subject in a brief manner.
A few online yearbooks and handbooks:
Week Ten: It's on the List
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This week you are to identify and examine bibliographies in your area of study.
Give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Place your work in your journal. Title the entry "RESOURCE GUIDE - BIBLIOGRAPHIES."
Sample of Bibliographies available online:
Week Eleven: Resources that do not require a Spine
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This week you are to identify and examine non-book information sources in your area of study.
Give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Place your work in your journal. Title the entry "RESOURCE GUIDE - NONBOOK."
Databases are one kind of non-book information resource. Two examples of databases available on the Web are:
Week Twelve: The Benefits of Taxes
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This week you are to identify and examine government publications in your area of study.
Give an overview of what kind of information is available in these resources and list specific sources and their call numbers (if in print) or URL (if on the Web); where appropriate, give notes on coverage of and how to use each resource.
Place your work in your journal. Title the entry "RESOURCE GUIDE - GOV DOCS."
Sample of Government Documents available on the Web:
Week Thirteen: Blue Ribbons and Gold Stars
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This week you should combine all sections of your work into one document, proof it for clarity and attractiveness. Review your Abstract and make sure it covers what you have actually done. Review your Title and make sure it captures the scope of your Resource Guide -- no more and no less.
As soon as your Resource Guide is finish, why not give your advisor a call and make an appointment to show off your good work and discuss what you have learned. Perhaps your advisor can offer information on additional resources to add to your guide.
Writing and Research Aids
On this instructional site, every effort has been made to acknowledge the work of others. Any omission is unintentional. If anyone finds an oversight, please contact me at brown@southernct.edu immediately so that any error can be corrected.
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