“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)