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LSC 504: Introduction to Reference and Information Services |
Class 2 ; Week of May 28 — June 3 Topics:Clicking on the links below will bring you directly to the following sections:
News and Notes: The following electronic "lecture" is meant to supplement the readings and in no way replaces it. What I have included is what I believe to be essential framework of what you need to know about these topics. Your readings will fill in the frame. Please feel free to post any concerns or questions to the class listserv at Z711@pete.uri.edu If you would prefer the Microsoft Word version of this document please click here For a printer friendly version of this page please click here. Thanks, Mary Discussion this week on LIBREF-L Reference Question of the Week (just for fun): "Where and when was Mr. Potato Head born?" Answers to this question may be posted to the Z711 listserv! |
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Richard Saul Wurman’s "Latch: The 5 Hat Racks of Organization" * All information can be organized by: Location *Wurman, Richard Saul. Information Anxiety2. Indianapolis: QUE. 2001 Library Catalogs include all of these criteria!What library catalogs DO: Library Catalog is a "Finding Tool" that lists the materials owned in the collection of a particular library. Each individual title in the catalog has its own "Bibliographic Record" that identifies/describes the title by these criteria: Author, title, publisher, location, date, size, ISBN, subject headings. What library catalogs CAN’T DO: Tell you what is between the covers of a book, journal, magazine newspaper, video or other library resource. Types of Catalogs : Historically included: Book Catalogs, Dictionary Catalogs and Card Catalogs More recently: Electronic Text Catalogs and Web-based Catalogs Other types of catalogs include Union Catalogs: Bibliographic Utilities provide a tool that allows for essential control over libraries’ collections through a large database of contributed and shared cataloging: Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) Sample Library Catalog Organization Schemes Dewey Decimal — usually Public Libraries Reading Library of Congress call numbers (for those who are unfamiliar) http://www.uri.edu/library/user_guides/general_guides/callnumbers.html
Also–URI Library has a tutorial, LC Easy, in the Reference Online Center for anyone who wants to practice or know more about LC Call Numbers. Notice the similarities and differences in library catalogs It’s helpful to view these different web-based library catalogs. Search for the title The Double Helix by James D. Watson Use the following three web catalogs and look at the variety of catalog styles HELIN catalog Yale’s Catalog — Orbis on the Web http://www.library.yale.edu/orbis/ Harvard’s Hollis Catalog Which catalog do you think is most user - friendly? Finding reference sources in the catalog Many reference sources are serials, with supplements and volumes being added weekly, monthly or annually. Other titles have newer editions being published on a regular basis. This means you will likely find several (or many!) bibliographic records that on first glance look alike in the catalog that you search. Here are two tips to help you find reference sources: 1. In HELIN search by title and look for the LATEST DATE or the NEEDED DATE These should help you find the most current or needed resource. SPECIFIC URI TIP: Some reference sources have a wooden block or "dummy book" on the shelf at the title’s call number. These titles are kept at the Reference Desk. Ask at the desk to sign the title out — you’ll need your student ID/library barcode number. back to top |
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When selecting a reference source for use and/or purchase keep the following criteria in mind. Apply these to the population that your library serves or the need that you are addressing. Subtitle - Does it tell you anything about the purpose or scope of the source? Authors/Editors — Does the title page, preface or introduction tell you anything about her, him or them? Do they have appropriate knowledge or credentials? Publisher - Book trade, government agency, professional society, educational institution, think tank, corporation? History — Is it a new work or a revision? Is it in serial format? When did it begin — how often is it published? Purpose: Why was it produced? This is usually noted in preface or introduction. Beware of bias and misinformation! Scope — What does the source cover? Check the Table of Contents, index(es), introduction and preface. Style — Written for the non-expert or the scholar? Child or adult? Frequency — How often is it published? Updated? Is it necessary? Arrangement — Chronological, alphabetical, subject — classified? Is it easy to figure out or does one need instruction? Bibliographies — How many are there? How extensive? Up to date? Indexes — Number? How are they organized? How adequate or useful? Special Features — What added value information is there? back to top |
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If you are new to reference work then bibliographies are most familiar to you as a list of "sources used" that you cited for a term paper or project. A bibliography is a list of works that may be complete or selective, compiled on some common organizing principle such as authorship, subject, place of publication, chronology or printer. Bibliographies can be: print or electronic format But the bottom line is that they are very helpful for locating additional information on a specific subject or topic. Don’t reinvent the wheel! Bibliographies are your friend! Common Types of Bibliographies Current Bibliography — What is being published currently Retrospective Bibliography — What was published over a period of time, not always comprehensive National Bibliography — list sources printed in a particular country Trade Bibliography — Produced by publishers to provide information for purchasing Subject Bibliography — lists of resources on a particular subject or topic Bibliography of bibliographies — lists of bibliographies on a topic arranged in a prescribed manner United States
Historical Bibliography There is no one national bibliography for the United States. Retrospective coverage of publishing in the U.S. must be pieced together using several sources. Homework Tip: Be sure to read p. 487-490 on this important topic. Review the Figure 20.1;Time Line of major sources for American bibliography. Make note of the Sabin, Evans and Roorbach bibliographies. Very useful stuff! Current Bibliography The following are some of the "most-used" titles as selection aids for librarians to answer reference questions, to verify citations and to select and acquire titles for the library collections. American Book Publishing Record, ABPR American Reference Books Annual, ARBA Other current bibliographical tools used for selection include: Try searching for Watson’s The Double Helix in WorldCat URI Library Homepage -- Reference Databases -- General and Reference -- WorldCat How many libraries own copies of the original publication date? Surprise! Another bibliographic/selection search method: Homework Tip: Don’t use Amazon.com for any answers on your homework. Learn the print–it will serve you well. Great Britain, France and Canada
Current Bibliographies p. 490-492 British National Bibliography URI owns the above titles as well as many other national bibliographies. Many are in both print and electronic format. Bibliographic Source List for Collection Development in Subject-Specific Areas
Librarians participating in subject specific collection development activities use many different selection tools outside of the larger seemingly all encompassing tools listed above. Note: Searching a library catalog by keyword is also helpful. Try this search in the HELIN catalog: Keyword search — bibliography AND children’s books How many "hits" or entries did you find? Scope Note: Here is a selected (not complete!) list to consult for your own knowledge and possibly some homework answers! The text’s Source List is more complete. Balay, Robert. Guide to Reference Books. 11th ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1996. Walford, Albert John. Walford’s Guide to Reference Materials. London: Library Association Publishing, 7th ed. 1996-1998 American Library Association. Ad Hoc Committee for the Fifth Edition of Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries. Reference Sources for Small and Medium Sized Libraries. Jovian P. Lang, ed. 5th ed. Chicago: The Association Dority, G. Kim. A Guide to Reference Books for Small and Medium Sized Libraries, 1984-1994. Englewood,CO:Libraries Unlimited, 1995. Sader, Marion. Topical Reference Books. New Providence, NJ: RR Bowker, 1991. Nichols. Margaret Irby. Guide to Reference Books for School Media Centers. 4th ed. Englewood,CO:Libraries Unlimited, 1992. Blazek, Ron and Elizabeth Aversa. The Humanities; A Selective Guide to Information Sources. 4th ed. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1994. Duckles, Vincent H. Music Reference and Research Material: An Annotated Bibliography. 4th ed., rev. New York: Schirmer Books, 1994. Herron, Nancy L. The Social Sciences: A Cross-Disciplinary Guide To Selected Sources. 2nd ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1996. Webb, William H. Sources of Information in the Social Sciences: A Guide to the Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1986. Strauss, Diane W. Handbook of Business Information: A Guide For Librarians, Students and Researchers. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1988. Hurt, C.D. Information Sources in Science and Technology. 2nd ed Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1994. American Reference Books Annual. Bohdan S. Wynar, et. Al., Eds. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1970-. Annual. Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium Sized Libraries and Media Centers. Bohdan S. Wynar, ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1981-, Annual. Booklist including Reference Books Bulletin. Chicago: American Library Association, 1983- (Note: This is a periodical published twice monthly once in August.) Rettig, James. http://www.hwwilson.com/rettig/retintro.htm. WilsonWeb. 10/95 9/97 Choice. Chicago: American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, 1964- (Note: periodical published 11 issues a year) College and Research Libraries. Chicago: American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, 1939- (Note: This periodical published 6 issues a year‹also see College and Research Libraries News, a supplement) Library Journal. New York: R.R. Bowker, 1876- (Periodical; semi-monthly) RSR: Reference Services Review. West Yorkshire, England: MCB University Press. (Periodical; published quarterly) RQ: Chicago: Reference and Adult Services Division of the American Library Association, 1960-1997 Multicultural Review, Westport, CT: GP Subscription Publications. (Periodical, quarterly) Bibliographies of Bibliographies Besterman, Theodore. A World Bibliography of Bibliographies and of Bibliographical Catalogues, Calendars, Abstracts, Digests, Indexes and the Like. 4th ed., rev. and greatly enlarged. Lausanne, Societas Bibliographica, 1965-66, 5 vol. (NOTE: Besterman has written many other bibliographies that are helpful as well.) Toomey, Alice F. A World Bibliography of Bibliographies, 1964-74; a list of works represented by Library of Congress printed catalog card. A decennial supplement to Besterman’s. Bibliographic Index; a cumulative bibliography of bibliographies, 1937- New York: Wilson. back to top |
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LSC504- MacDonald Summer 2001 Due June 4 for full credit. Instructions: Using the bibliographic titles, databases and library catalogs that you have read about in our texts, complete the following questions. Cite the source that you used to answer the question and then answer the question. Be as complete as possible, including proper citation format (use either MLA or Turabian). All work must be word-processed. Double-space between answers please. Note: 20 questions at 5 points each. Thanks. 1. My parents just moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and I’d like to order the local paper for them. How much is the subscription and is there more than one paper? 2. Find a print bibliography that covers the works of the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. 3. Can you help me find a library that owns the periodical The Annals of Improbable Research? I would also like to have subscription information for this journal. 4. Can you find a source that will provide lists of children’s books for latinas? 5. Can you recommend some magazines on model railroads? 6. I have a book on the Scottish Highland Games. Can you recommend a source that will list more titles on this subject? 7.Where is the periodical RSR: Reference Services Review indexed? 8.Can you recommend a book on weather forecasting for children in middle school? 9.I would like to add to my library’s collection on attention deficit disorder. Find some recently published books on this topic (1998 and later)? 10.Can you recommend some novels that deal with the Vietnam Conflict for my son who is a senior in high school? 11.Find a recent bibliography of Christian Fiction. Please select some titles from the list that I can get from a public library in Rhode Island. 12.My friend has a cookbook titled Manifold Destiny and I’d also like to own a copy. Can you tell me if it is still in print and how I can contact the publisher? 13.I am trying to trace my Canadian ancestry. My grandfather is from Prince Edward Island and my grandmother is from Nova Scotia. Is there a book that will help?
14.I’d like to bring some travel videos to my shut-in neighbor but I don’t know which ones she might like. Can you help me find a listing of videos about other countries? 15.Locate the following information about the periodical Stereo Review’s Sound and Vision: How often is it issued? What is the annual subscription price? Who publishes it? What is the International Standard Serial Number (ISBN)? What is the average circulation for the publication? In how many indexing sources is it indexed? What was the former title of the periodical? 16.I need information on the history of the New York Public Library. Can you find a print source on the topic that can refer me to several other articles on this topic? 17. I am a new GSLIS at a large research University. Help me find the most important periodicals in my area that I should subscribe to. I plan to be an academic reference librarian. 18. I am doing a project on the country of Brunei. I can’t find much in depth information on this country. Is there a source at URI that can lead me to lots of information in one place? 19. My daughter’s dog was stolen out on the West Coast. She is living in Eugene, Oregon. Help me find a newspaper and a radio station where I can advertise for the return of the dog. 20. My Uncle Clarence is very interested in all that Benjamin Franklin published. He needs the complete citation to the very first Poor Richard’s Almanack. How can I find this information for my favorite Uncle? After all he is paying all my GSLIS tuition! Extra Credit — 10 points On what day and date was Samuel Sewall’s poem "A Little Before Break-A-Day" written. Tip: He was American and lived quite a long time ago. back to top |