Choosing Resources for Information

Resources to choose from-

• Almanacs• Atlas• Internet• Live interview• Periodicals• Encyclopedias• Dictionary• Library online catalog

An almanac contains facts such as weather, population, currency, and geographical data.

ALMANACS

• Use an almanac when you are looking for current statistical data and basic information about a topic.

• Almanacs are published annually (each year). They include up-to-date (current) statistics lists, charts, and tables of useful information on many different topics. They may also include maps and color plates of national flags.

• When do I use an almanac?Use an almanac when you need up-to-date information (e.g., what the flag of a specific country looks like or what the population of a specific country is), especially when you need a list of things (e.g., academy award winners or first ladies) or to compare things (e.g., the highest mountain, the longest river).

Example: If you need the most current population of Egypt by cities, find Egypt as the main heading listed in the general index, This will tell you the page to turn to for the information. Then find the subheading Population.

An almanac is usually arranged by topics.

An atlas contains maps and most atlases also have mileage indicators.

The Internet contains current information on many topics, including current weather. It also has online encyclopedias and other types of resources.

A live interview provides a first-hand account of a person's experiences.

Periodicals are publications which are issued at regular intervals, such as journals, magazines, and newspapers.

The Advantages of Using Periodicals Because they are published frequently, periodicals are the best sources for current information.

Current events are usually discussed in periodicals long before they become the subject of a book.

Periodicals often contain information on the latest trends, products, research and theories.

Periodicals exist for every field and every interest, providing access to a variety of hard-to find information.

Due to the shorter length of periodical articles, more topics may be covered within one volume of a periodical than in one book.

The newspaper gives the most current daily news such as current events, sports information, and daily weather.

The encyclopedia has information on many general topics and people in history.

The dictionary will give correct spellings of words, their meanings and how to pronounce a word.

A library automation program will give you the names of authors, titles of books available and a listing of books available in the library.

Let’s Play a Game

•Choose the best resource for the information needed.

• Jessica wants to know what the weather is like in Minneapolis, Minnesota today. What resource should she use? • Newspaper• Encyclopedia• Dictionary• Library Automation Program

• Andrew has a report due on American Presidents. What resource should he use?

• Newspaper• Live interview• Encyclopedia• Atlas

• Laura needs to find the meaning of the word “confused". What resource should she use? • Almanac• Atlas• Dictionary• Library Automation Program

• Matt loves to follow the Los Angeles Lakers. He wants to know the score for the game last night. What resource should he use?• Newspaper• Encyclopedia• Almanac• Atlas

• Chris wants to know about the US Presidents in order. What resource should he use?• Newspaper• Almanac• Dictionary• Atlas

• Tanya loves to read books by Sharon Creech. What resource should she use to find books written by the author?• Interview• Almanac• Library automation program• Dictionary

• Johnny is interested in reading about some adventures in science. What resource should he use? • Dictionary• Science Magazine• Library automation• Almanac

• Justin’s family is buying a Siamese Cat. He needs information on this type of cat. What resource should he use? • Dictionary• Internet• Newspaper• Almanac

• Claudia needs to find out how to pronounce a word. What resource should she use? • Dictionary• Atlas• Almanac• Television

• Spencer wants to find out about the earthquake in Hawaii this morning. What resource should he use?• Encyclopedia• Internet• Atlas• Almanac

• Susan is doing a report on Hawaii and needs to know a quick fact - what is the State Flower. Where should she look first?• Dictionary• Television• Almanac• Newspaper

• Ben needs to know the distance between Paris and Madrid. What resource should he use first? • Personal interview• Newspaper• Encyclopedia• Internet

• Marc wants the latest medical news about headaches. Which of the following would provide him with the latest research information? • Books• Internet• Atlas• Newspaper

• Pat is doing research on tigers and wants to read a good general background article on the animal. Where should he look? • Newspaper• Almanac• Encyclopedia • Interview with someone that's been to a

zoo and seen a tiger

• Carol wants to know what it would be like to be a teacher. Where should she turn? • Dictionary• An interview with a teacher• Encyclopedia• Educational journal

• Joe wants to know what time the moon rises today. The information seems to change daily. Where should he go for information? • Encyclopedia• Reference book on parks• Local newspaper• Almanac