| You're getting ready to write a research paper. | | | | What will you find in the library? Books, journals, |
| You've taken my advice and gone to the library. | | | | electronic media, documents, pamphlet, special |
| Now you are going find out how to use the | | | | collections. Let's start with reference books. |
| library. | | | | Reference materials can not generally be checked |
| What type of library do you need? If you are a | | | | out. These materials provide an overview of a |
| high school student you will probably use your | | | | topic including facts and statistics. Almanacsare |
| school library, the public library, or maybe an | | | | annual publications with calendars, statistics, and |
| academic library. A college student will go to the | | | | useful facts. The World Almanac and Book of |
| academic library at her college or university. But | | | | Facts is an example. Atlases have maps and |
| there are other kinds of libraries: private, | | | | charts. Dictionaries come in general and special |
| research, specialized. You probably won't need | | | | versions. Encyclopedias provide the same type of |
| them at this point in your research. | | | | overview and also will be all-purpose or specific |
| The library has many resources for research. | | | | subjects. The Encyclopedia Judaica is an example |
| Books and other media are classified and shelved | | | | of a specialized encyclopedia. |
| by different systems in various libraries. The | | | | Bibliographies are systematic lists of books and |
| Dewey Decimal system is used in school, public | | | | other works that cover a specific subject. |
| and small college libraries. The Library of Congress | | | | Directories have lists of books, websites, and |
| system is used in colleges and university libraries. | | | | articles also on a specific subject. The 2009 |
| The Superintendent of Documents system is | | | | Internet Directory lists websites, wikis, podcasts, |
| generally used for a government documents | | | | forums, videos, blogs, virtual worlds and social |
| collection at a library that participates in the | | | | networking. There are glossaries that define |
| Depository Library Program (FDLP). If you don't | | | | technical terms. You will find biographical |
| know what system your library uses, ask a | | | | dictionaries that are books or online. Who's Who in |
| library assistant to help you. | | | | America has been in print since 1899. There many |
| Each item in the library will have a call number in | | | | other reference books like poetry indexes. |
| one of the classification systems previously | | | | We have looked at many different types of |
| mentioned. Each item will have a unique | | | | reference books in the library. And don't forget |
| identification number that is essentially an item's | | | | the nonfiction books and materials that are not |
| address. If you have a few moments, take a | | | | reference and can be checked out. These are |
| walk around the library and look at the different | | | | written by experts, such as scientists, scholars, |
| call numbers. | | | | and academics in a particular field. These materials |
| Libraries have catalogues that will enable you to | | | | discuss a particular topic in depth and provide |
| find what you are looking for. Most are now online | | | | citations to other sources on that topic. In the |
| and not in the drawers we used in the old days. | | | | next article we will look at periodicals and |
| You will enjoy searching the catalogue by | | | | electronic search media. |
| keyword, subject, title, or author. | | | | |