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Choosing Reference Works in the Choosing Reference Works in the Meade Memorial LibraryMeade Memorial Library

What is a Reference Work?

Deciding What You NeedA Glossary of Types of Reference Wor

ksAsking for HelpWeb Version of this Tutorial

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What is a “Reference Work”?What is a “Reference Work”?

Broad Definition

– Any material which is used to obtain authoritative information.

Reference works

– usually are not read from cover to cover,

– but are consulted for definite items of information.

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What is a “Reference Work”?What is a “Reference Work”? In the Meade Memorial

Library, it’s a book shelved in the Reference Room, for use only in the Library.

See the Glossary for types of reference works. Reference works of all kinds are tools for researchers. As with any tool, ease of use will come with practice. So, let’s go!

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Deciding What You Need: Using Deciding What You Need: Using the Right Toolsthe Right Tools

You wouldn’t try to build a house with scissors, glue and a hole-punch. A measuring tape, saw and a hammer are tools better suited to the task.

What you want to end up with when you finish will determine which tools you use. Ask yourself, “What do I want to know?”

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Deciding What You Need: Using Deciding What You Need: Using the Right Toolsthe Right Tools Write a thesis statement that states your

research topic and its aspects. – The thesis statement tells briefly what you

believe to be true about a topic, or what should be done to resolve an issue.

– You may have to rewriteit after you discover more about your topic or issue.

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Deciding What You Need: Using Deciding What You Need: Using the Right Toolsthe Right Tools

You need to find out whether or not you can support your thesis statement.

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Deciding What You Need: Deciding What You Need: What kind of information What kind of information could could support your thesis?support your thesis?

Fill in the blank:

– “If I knew ________________, then I could support my thesis.”

This will tell you which tool to use.

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Deciding What You Need: Deciding What You Need: Six Key Questions to AskSix Key Questions to Ask

1. Is it a passage of Bible text itself that I am trying to understand?

2. Am I trying to determine the meaning of a word in its original language?

3. Is it a theological topic I am curious about?

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Deciding What You Need: Deciding What You Need: Six Key Questions to AskSix Key Questions to Ask

4. Is it a historical or cultural event?

5. Is it a geographical question?

6. Is it biographical?

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1.1. Is it a passage of Bible text itself Is it a passage of Bible text itself

that I am trying to understand?that I am trying to understand?

Go to the Glossary– The kind of reference work most likely to deal

with the meaning of a particular passage of a Bible book is a ________________________.

If you said,

“COMMENTARY,”you are correct.

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2.2. Am I trying to determine the Am I trying to determine the meaning of a word in its original meaning of a word in its original language?language?

Go to the Glossary– The kind of reference work most likely to deal

with the meaning of a word in its original language is a ________________________.

If you said,

“LEXICON,” “WORDBOOK” or “CONCORDANCE,”

you are correct.

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3.3. Is it a theological topic I am curious Is it a theological topic I am curious about?about?

Go to the Glossary– The kind of reference work most likely to deal

with how theologians have understood a Biblical teaching is a ________________________.

If you said,

“SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY” or “HANDBOOK,”

you are correct.

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4.4. Is it a historical or cultural event?Is it a historical or cultural event?

Go to the Glossary– The kind of reference work most likely to give

background information on a period of time is a ________________________.

If you said,

“BIBLE DICTIONARY” or “COMMENTARY,”

you are correct.

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5.5. Is it a geographical question?Is it a geographical question?

Go to the Glossary– The kind of reference work most likely to give

information on a place and its people is a ________________________.

If you said,

“ATLAS,”you are correct.

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6.6. Is it biographical?Is it biographical?

Go to the Glossary– The kind of reference work most likely to give

information on a person in the Bible is a ________________________.

If you said,

“BIBLE DICTIONARY,”you are correct.

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6.6. Is it biographical?Is it biographical?

Go to the Glossary– The kind of reference work most likely to give

information on a person NOT mentioned in the Bible is a ________________________.

If you said,

“BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY,”you are correct.

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Deciding What You Need: Deciding What You Need: All Reference Works are Not Created EqualAll Reference Works are Not Created Equal

Factors in Evaluating Information Authorship

– Who wrote it? Publisher

– Who made the material available to you? Objectivity

– Were they objective in their analysis of a problem or issue, or is there an expression of bias in what you found?

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Deciding What You Need: Deciding What You Need: All Reference Works are Not Created EqualAll Reference Works are Not Created Equal

More Factors in Evaluating Information Currency

– How current is what you foundand how current does it need to be?

Referral to other sources– Does the source you are evaluating refer you to

other sources either in print or on the web? Verifiability

– Are results that you are presented with able to be verified elsewhere either in print or on the web?

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Deciding What You Need: Deciding What You Need: All Reference Works are Not Created EqualAll Reference Works are Not Created Equal

A handy guide for evaluating sources

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Glossary:Glossary:Types of Reference Works in the Meade Types of Reference Works in the Meade Memorial LibraryMemorial Library

Atlas– A bound collection of maps often including charts,

tables, and illustrations. Bible Dictionary

– A book or set of books containing articles on various topics, usually in alphabetical order, covering various or specific aspects of knowledge (may also be referred to as an encyclopedia).

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Glossary:Glossary:Types of Reference Works in the Meade Types of Reference Works in the Meade Memorial LibraryMemorial Library

Biographical Dictionary– A book or set of books that provides accounts of

the lives of notable men and women from ancient times to the present day. (A Web example can be found at http://www.s9.com/biography/.)

Commentary– A series of comments, explanations, or annotations

on books of the Bible. The best commentaries will often begin by discussing higher critical issues.

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Glossary:Glossary:Types of Reference Works in the Meade Types of Reference Works in the Meade Memorial LibraryMemorial Library

Concordance– An alphabetical index of the words of the Bible,

with reference to the passage in which each occurs and usually to some part of the context. Often the English words are keyed to their original language counterparts.

Handbook– A scholarly book on a specific subject, often

consisting of separate essays or articles.

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Glossary:Glossary:Types of Reference Works in the Meade Types of Reference Works in the Meade Memorial LibraryMemorial Library

Lexicon– A wordbook or dictionary of a particular language

indicating the meaning of words and of idiomatic combinations of words.

Systematic Theology– A book that attempts to relate the various portions

of the Bible to one another in an effort to formulate its topical teachings (doctrines) into a harmonious, consistent whole.

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Glossary:Glossary:Types of Reference Works in the Meade Types of Reference Works in the Meade Memorial LibraryMemorial Library

Wordbook– A book of words found in the Old and/or New

Testament books, usually with definitions, and explanations.

Return to Question 1. Return to Question 2. Return to Question 3. Return to Question 4. Return to Question 5. Return to Question 6.

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Asking for HelpAsking for Help A Bible College library is a unique storehouse of

information.

– It takes everyone time to find his/her way around.

The reference librarians are eager to assist students and faculty.

– “I don’t know what I don’t know” is true for every searcher. We all start at the same place.

– Ask for help!

You may also email questions to the Director of Library Services: library@christianlifecollege.edu

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Asking for HelpAsking for Help Attend the Library training sessions

– Check the Library Bulletin Board for dates and times

Investigate Dewey Decimal Classification and other library tutorials – A Story About the Dewey Decimal System of

Classification

– Let's Do Dewey

– A Library Research Tutorial

•Relax and Enjoy a Great Book!