SI: What is a reference source?

There is a clue in the word. It is something that we refer to; a publication, print or online, that contains information but that we usually don't read through like a regular book. We dip in and out, just looking at, or referring to, the part that contains the relevant information for our needs.

Reference sources are compilations of factual information:

• statistics (almanacs) 
• definitions (dictionaries)
• brief articles of background information or overviews (encyclopedias) 
• maps (atlases)
• a listing of other relevant sources to consult on a topic (bibliographies)

Generally they do not circulate or check-out. They stay in the library for everyone to consult or refer to.

(To find reference works you can use OneSearch, the default search box on the library homepage, type your keywords, and limit your results to reference sources using the Resource Type filter on the right. Or you can go to the Databases tab and use the A-Z list to find Gale Ebooks which are all reference books.)

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