Introduction To Reference Work Basic Information Sources

"Reference Services and Reference Processes," Volume II of Introduction to Reference Work, introduces the sophisticated and imaginative aspects of the complete reference process. It discusses the ongoing and important changes and developments in information technologies, particularly the role of the Internet in the reference process.. . It is designed for use as a companion volume to "Basic Information Sources," Volume I of Introduction to Reference Work..

Basic Information Services, Volume I of Introduction to Reference Work, explains the basic reference processes and sources of information in today's libraries. It is a tool for understanding and mastering basic reference forms, no matter how they're packaged. This eighth edition is virtually all new, reflecting the easy accessibility of electronic databases on the Internet.Its companion, Volume II, Reference Services and Reference Processes, introduces the sophisticated and imaginative aspects of the complete reference process. It discusses the ongoing and important changes and developments in information technologies, particularly the role of the Internet in the reference process.

This revised and updated sixth edition of Reference and Information Services continues the book's rich tradition, covering all phases of reference and information services with less emphasis on print and more emphasis on strategies and scenarios. Reference and Information Services is the go-to textbook for MSLIS and i-School courses on reference services and related topics. It is also a helpful handbook for practitioners. Authors include LIS faculty and professionals who have relevant degrees in their areas and who have published extensively on their topics. The first half of the book provides an overview of reference services and techniques for service provision, including the reference interview, ethics, instruction, reader's advisory, and services to diverse populations including children. This part of the book establishes a foundation of knowledge on reference service and frames each topic with ethical and social justice perspectives. The second part of the book offers an overview of the information life cycle and dissemination of information, followed by an in-depth examination of information sources by type—including dictionaries, encyclopedias, indexes, and abstracts—as well as by broad subject areas including government, statistics and data, health, and legal information. This second section introduces the tools and resources that reference professionals use to provide the services described in the first half of the text.

Search skills of today bear little resemblance to searches through print publications. Reference service has become much more complex than in the past, and is in a constant state of flux. Learning the skill sets of a worthy reference librarian can be challenging, unending, rewarding, and-- yes, fun.

V.1. Basic information sources. v.2. Reference services and reference processes.

Provides a thorough introduction to the basic information sources in any field of interest, from the humanities to the sciences. In the fourth edition, greater coverage is given to computer-assisted reference services. Several sections on automation and databases provide a clear, non-technical examination of these important areas.