Reference Materials Rainbow Library Media Center Mrs. Paschal

What do you already know? Where is the reference section located? What can you find there? Why do we use these types of books? Can you name some of the references? Why can’t you check them out of the library?

Types of References Directories Almanacs Handbooks Biographies Dictionaries Thesaurus Encyclopedias Atlases

Directories Gives a list of persons usually arranged in alphabetical order. Examples: –Yearbook –Telephone Book –Church Directory

Almanacs Almanacs provide useful data and statistics related to countries, people, events and subjects. Information is arranged by days, months or years.

Handbooks Handbooks are also known as manuals. They give information on a particular subject. Examples: Guinness Book of Records, & Famous First Facts

Biographies These books are about a person’s life told by another person. An autobiography is the story about one’s own life. They can tell many facts about their childhood and adult life.

Dictionaries These books have alphabetically arranged words with spellings, meanings, pronunciations, parts of speech, usage, and forms of the word.

Thesaurus This type of reference book lists words in alphabetical order. It then gives a list of synonyms and antonyms for that word. It is great way to build new vocabulary for old, overused words.

Encyclopedias Encyclopedias usually come in sets with several volumes. They give information on different topics arranged alphabetically.

Atlases An atlas is a book of maps. It gives valuable information about landscapes, climate, crops, and places of interest.

Quiz Time Name that Book Which reference would you use to find synonyms? What book do you use to find how many miles it is to Disney World? Which reference book would tell you the grade Mrs. Paschal used to teach? What book could you find the world’s tallest man? Which book could tell you the meaning of the word of the day? What book would tell you about our President?

Reference Materials I hope you learned more about references today, and use them often for research. Thank you for being good listeners. “Information is free at the library. All you have to do is bring your own container.”