Reference Sources

The ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science (1983) gives the following definitions of a reference book.

i. A book designed by the arrangement and treatment of its subject matter to be consulted for definite items of information rather than to be read consecutively 

ii. A book whose use is restricted to the library building

A reference source provides answers to brief facts, statistical information, background information, or directs you to additional information source. The reference sources are standard works that are used to locate specific type of information. Although the term ‘reference book’ is frequently used, reference sources may be books, serials, on-line databases, or internet. Reference books are referred to or consulted only, and are not meant for continuous reading. For example, you normally use a dictionary to find the meaning of a word, you do not read it page-by-page as you do with a text book or a story book. Reference sources include dictionaries, encyclopaedias, handbooks, yearbooks, almanacs, directories, biographical and geographical sources. You must be familiar with dictionaries and encyclopaedias, as you might have used either one or both of them for your class assignments or at home. 

Librarians usually provide reference services on the basis of reference books in their collection. These are mainly used for providing ‘Ready Reference’ service to the library users. In most libraries, these books are not issued and are located in a separate reference collection. This practice makes reference sources readily available and easily accessible. Most of the reference books are specifically designed to provide required information quickly and in the most convenient form.

 Various reference sources :- 

 Dictionaries 

 Encyclopaedias 

 Handbooks 

 Yearbooks 

 Almanacs 

 Biographical sources, and 

 Geographical Sources