Lake Land College Lake Land College LibraryLibrary

Tim Schreiber Tim Schreiber

Information Services LibrarianInformation Services Librarian

Reference DeskReference Desk

Phone: 234-5440Email: libref@lakeland.cc.il.us

Types of Types of Information Information

AvailableAvailable in the Library in the Library

Sources of InformationSources of Information

Reference MaterialsReference Materials BooksBooks PeriodicalsPeriodicals World Wide WebWorld Wide Web

Examples of Examples of Reference MaterialsReference Materials

EncyclopediasEncyclopedias DictionariesDictionaries Atlases & MapsAtlases & Maps DirectoriesDirectories Handbooks & Handbooks &

ManualsManuals

Reference MaterialsReference Materials

StrengthsStrengths Quick facts from Quick facts from

authoritative sourceauthoritative source StatisticsStatistics Good for getting Good for getting

overviews or overviews or background infobackground info

WeaknessesWeaknesses Good starting point, Good starting point,

but you will need but you will need other types of other types of sources for in-depth sources for in-depth informationinformation

Books (non-fiction)Books (non-fiction)

StrengthsStrengths Space available for Space available for

lengthy arguments lengthy arguments and detailand detail

Editors and fact-Editors and fact-checkerscheckers

Example: Example: The Mold in The Mold in Dr. Florey’s Coat: The Dr. Florey’s Coat: The Story of the Penicillin Story of the Penicillin MiracleMiracle

WeaknessesWeaknesses Not always the most Not always the most

up-to-date resource.up-to-date resource. More difficult to More difficult to

search for specific search for specific information.information.

PeriodicalsPeriodicalsNewspapers, Magazines, JournalsNewspapers, Magazines, Journals

StrengthsStrengths Information is more Information is more

current.current. Editors and fact-Editors and fact-

checkerscheckers Easier to find things; Easier to find things;

full-text searchesfull-text searches

WeaknessesWeaknesses Not enough space for Not enough space for

extensive treatment extensive treatment of single subject.of single subject.

Academic articles Academic articles may be too technical may be too technical or specific.or specific.

Types of PeriodicalsTypes of Periodicals

Journals vs. Newspapers & Magazines

What’s the difference?

• Who writes them? • Who reads them?• What is their purpose?• How often are they published?

JournalsJournals Considered a “scholarly” or “academic” Considered a “scholarly” or “academic”

source.source. Purpose is to make original research available. Purpose is to make original research available. Authors are scholars and researchers.Authors are scholars and researchers. Aimed at a small audience of other scholars Aimed at a small audience of other scholars

and researchers.and researchers. Refereed process; peer-reviewRefereed process; peer-review Usually published monthly or quarterlyUsually published monthly or quarterly Examples: Examples: New England Journal of Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine,

Journal of Special EducationJournal of Special Education

Magazines & NewspapersMagazines & Newspapers

Purpose is to provide general information or Purpose is to provide general information or entertain. entertain.

Authors are writers or journalists.Authors are writers or journalists. Aimed at the general public.Aimed at the general public. Many pictures, graphics & ads.Many pictures, graphics & ads. Published daily, weekly, or monthlyPublished daily, weekly, or monthly No peer-review process (but use editors)No peer-review process (but use editors) Examples: Examples: Rolling Stone,Rolling Stone, Newsweek, New Newsweek, New

York TimesYork Times

World Wide Web (“The Web”)World Wide Web (“The Web”)

StrengthsStrengths Many different Many different

points of view.points of view. Many different Many different

formats (text, formats (text, images, audio, images, audio, video.)video.)

Can be very up-to-Can be very up-to-date.date.

WeaknessesWeaknesses Not organized, can Not organized, can

be hard to find stuff.be hard to find stuff. Anyone can say Anyone can say

anything, even anything, even wrong or misleading wrong or misleading information.information.

Evaluating InformationEvaluating Information AccuracyAccuracy

Editors or fact-checkers? Consistent with other sources? Lots Editors or fact-checkers? Consistent with other sources? Lots of typos or grammatical errors?of typos or grammatical errors?

AuthorityAuthority Who wrote it? What are their credentials?Who wrote it? What are their credentials?

PurposePurpose To inform? Persuade? Sell? Entertain? Who is the audience?To inform? Persuade? Sell? Entertain? Who is the audience?

ObjectivityObjectivity Facts or opinions? Sponsored by a special-interest group? Facts or opinions? Sponsored by a special-interest group?

Easy answers (propaganda) or hard questions?Easy answers (propaganda) or hard questions? CurrencyCurrency

How old is the information? Include new developments?How old is the information? Include new developments?

How To Find How To Find Information in the Information in the

LibraryLibrary

Library Search ToolsLibrary Search Tools

To Find…To Find… Use…Use…

BooksBooks Library CatalogsLibrary Catalogs

Reference InfoReference Info Catalogs or Reference Catalogs or Reference DatabasesDatabases

Articles fromArticles from

PeriodicalsPeriodicals

Article DatabasesArticle Databases

Library CatalogsLibrary Catalogs Catalogs tell you what materials (Books, AV items, Catalogs tell you what materials (Books, AV items,

etc.) are in the library and where to find them. etc.) are in the library and where to find them. Our catalog is called Our catalog is called LINCLINC. It is an online catalog, . It is an online catalog,

so you can use it from any computer with an internet so you can use it from any computer with an internet connection.connection.

LINCLINC is a system-wide catalog, which allows you is a system-wide catalog, which allows you to order items from 80+ other libraries in the Lincoln to order items from 80+ other libraries in the Lincoln Trail Libraries System.Trail Libraries System.

From our website, you can also search other catalogs From our website, you can also search other catalogs such as such as IllinetIllinet and and WorldCatWorldCat..

Library DatabasesLibrary Databases An online resource that contains articles and An online resource that contains articles and

information taken from print sources such as information taken from print sources such as magazines, newspapers, journals, and magazines, newspapers, journals, and reference books.reference books.

These are These are notnot “internet sources” or free web “internet sources” or free web pages that you will find using Google or pages that you will find using Google or Yahoo. Articles come from published sources.Yahoo. Articles come from published sources.

Available on the web, but part of our library’s Available on the web, but part of our library’s collection. Must go through our library’s collection. Must go through our library’s website (and login if from home.)website (and login if from home.)

Types of Library DatabasesTypes of Library Databases Article DatabasesArticle Databases enable you to search through enable you to search through

thousands of different magazines, journals and thousands of different magazines, journals and newspapers to find articles on a particular topic.newspapers to find articles on a particular topic.

Reference DatabasesReference Databases provide access to online provide access to online versions of reference books (encyclopedias, versions of reference books (encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.) Usually more subject-specific. dictionaries, etc.) Usually more subject-specific.

Need Help?Need Help?

Ask at the Reference Desk!Ask at the Reference Desk!Phone: 234-5440 Email: libref@lakeland.cc.il.usPhone: 234-5440 Email: libref@lakeland.cc.il.us