fsu slis wk 8 intro to info services - ready reference
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FSU SLIS Wk 8 - Ready Reference by Dr. Lorri Mon at Florida's iSchool http://slis.fsu.edu/TRANSCRIPT
“Ready Reference” LIS 5603, Intro to Information Services
Dr. Lorri Mon, College of Information
“Ready Reference”
“Desk Set” – Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy
Telephone Reference Centers
San Antonio Public Library: “Staff members answering the Library's main telephone number (207-2500) answer reference questions in 5 minutes or less, supply information about all Central and branch library activities and hours…They also keep up-to-date information on all local, federal, and world government officials for ready reference. There are also over 1,200 reference books in the Telephone Reference area for staff to use to answer your questions. Staff members also keep a clipping file of answers for frequently asked questions.”
http://www.sanantonio.gov/library/central/phonereference.asp
Quick Answers Center atSeattle Public Library
Ready Reference Questions
• What’s the top rated graduate program for library and information science?
• How much did shoes cost in 1925?• In what rank order are you supposed to seat and
greet important people?• Who was Japan’s minister of education in 1999?• I have a phone number and I would like to know
whose it is. How can I look it up?
Guide to Reference Books/Sources
New Guide to Reference Sources: http://www.guidetoreference.org/HomePage.aspx
Famous source which goes back over the decades, known by the editor
Now Kieft, was Balay, formerly Sheehy
Lists recommended reference resources by subject area including databases,bibliographies, and other useful research tools.
Almanacs
Annual – covers one year’s worth of information
Contains statistics, tables & general facts
esp. calendars, chronologies, astronomy, weather
Best selling reference books for centuries -
simple, standard format
symbols & illustrations (e.g. phases of the moon)
zodiac, astrology and predictions
household hints, recipes, remedies
stories, sayings, events of interest
Katz, Bill (1998), From Cuneiform to Computer: A History of Reference Sources.
World Almanac & Book of Facts
Old source – editions from 1868 to date
The bestseller – over 2 million sold per year
Cost: $29.95
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.
World Almanac, 1899 – U.S. Troops inWar, Planetary Configurations in 1890
Whitaker’s Almanack (United Kingdom)
Old source – editions from 1869 to date
(Bram Stoker’s Dracula consulted it)
About 1,300 pages
Cost: $92.00
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.
The Confederate Almanac, 1863
Included a list of the ConfederateGovernment officers, governorsof Confederate states, and poemsand prayers to inspire the soldiers.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/almanac1863/taylor.html
Entry for March 1863 with times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise and phases
Old Farmer’s Almanac
Oldest American almanac (1792 to date)
4 million copies distributed in supermarkets and drugstores
Cost: $5.95Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.
Congressional Quarterly AlmanacCongressional Quarterly Almanac
Entries from Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 2001
The Weather Almanac
African American Almanac
Entry under “Science & Technology” for Dr. Mae Jemison, Astronaut
Bowker Annual Library & Book Trade Almanac
Yearbooks
A year’s accumulation of events and facts– Originally – a years’ worth
of laws (13th century)– Expanding to cover years’
worth of other events:
• Meeting minutes
• World or industry events
• Legislative activities
Europa World Yearbook (Countries)
Editions from 1926 to date
2 volumes
Cost: $815.00
Katz, Bill (1998), From Cuneiform to Computer: A History of Reference Sources.
Europa World Yearbook (Countries)
Editions from 1926 to date
2 volumes
Cost: $815.00
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.
From 2004 Europa Entry on China:
Chase’s Calendar of Events
Entry for “October 30-31” from the 2004 Edition
Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
Old source – editions from 1879 to date
(ends: 2012)
1,500 tables and charts
Cost: (was) free
(US government info is in the public domain)
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/
Statistical Record of Older Americans
Guinness Book of World Records
Issues in using this: Published annually, 1955-to date
• Not cumulative• Not standard year to year
(you may have to look through multiple editions to find the particular fact you’re looking for)
Rankings
Lists of the “best” or “most important”
– Education– Restaurants– Places to stay– Award winning,
“Seal of Approval””
• Places Rated Places Rated AlmanacAlmanac
• Gourman Report on Gourman Report on Graduate ProgramsGraduate Programs
• Peterson’s educational Peterson’s educational institution rankingsinstitution rankings
Places Rated Almanac
Ranking for “Recreation” – also has scores for Crime, Education, etc.
Facts on FileDecember 10-16, 1941 News Events
Editorials on FileNewspaper Editorials in April, 2000
Editorials on FileEditorials & Cartoon Editorials for July 1-15, 2000
Value of a DollarEntry for 1925-1927
America Votes 24 (2000)
Washington State’s Post-War Vote for President
20001996199219881984198019761972
Kane’s First Facts
Directories
• Thomas Register of Manufacturers
• Gale Directory of Databases
• Literary MarketPlace (LMP)
• Martindale-Hubble Lawyer Locator
• Reverse Lookup Directories ( “Haines” or “Criss-Cross” Directories)
Reverse Lookup Directories
People may also ask for “Haines” or “Criss-Cross” Directories
http://reversedirectory.langenberg.com/
Google as a Ready Reference Source
All sorts of Google lookups, not just stocks!
Next Dates
• Sat, Oct 20: Basic HTML workshop (5:30pm-6:30pm) – look for an email soon with the link (NOT our usual classroom) – optional
• Mon, Oct 22: IPL2 Question #1 (first “real user” question – (was: 10/15)
• NO CLASS NEXT WEEK (OCT 25) – catch up week!• Mon, Oct 29: IPL2 Question #2 (second“real user”
question• Tue, Nov. 13: IPL Question #3 & IPL reflective paper
with copies of all questions (email to instructor)• Mon. Nov 20: Reference interviews and paper (email
to instructor)• Mon. Dec. 10: Research Guide (email to instructor)