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Lists of Essential Resources

What are the resources that every library needs?

Helpful Lists

     A majority of reference questions are answered with a small part of the reference collection! Sometimes a small group of frequently used reference sources is called Ready Reference. What are the basic resources considered essential for reference work? Listed below are print resources. For recommended reference web sites, see the Internet page in this module.

     Resources are described at three levels:

Essential Resources for Libraries

     These reference books are considered to be essential to even the smallest library. New editions may have appeared, so be sure to check for the latest available when ordering.

1. General Almanac (current year)

  • Information Please Almanac, Atlas and Yearbook, Houghton Mifflin, Annual.
  • World Almanac & Book of Facts, World Almanac Books, Annual.

2. Encyclopedia (current within 3 years)

  • World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Annual.

3. Unabridged Dictionary (choose one)

  • American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Houghton Mifflin, Irregular.
  • Random House Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Random House, Irregular.
  • Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Merriam Webster, Irregular.

4. Telephone Directory (current year)

  • Local and nearest major metropolitan area

5. Auto Repair Manual (current within five years)

  • Chilton's Auto Repair Manual, Chilton Book Company, Annual.
  • Chilton's Import Car Repair Manual, Chilton Book Company, Annual.

6. Consumer information (current editions)

  • Consumer Reports Buying Guide, Consumers Union of U.S., Annual.

7. Family Medical Guide (current within three to five years)

  • The American Medical Association Family Medical Guide, Random House, Irregular.
  • The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Home Medical Guide, Crown Publishers, Irregular.

8. Atlases (all should be current within five years or latest editions of classic atlases)

  • Local Maps (City and County)
  • Rand McNally Road Atlas: United States, Canada, Mexico, Rand McNally, Annual.
  • Goode's World Atlas, Rand McNally, Irregular.

9. Index to Periodicals (current year)

  • Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, H. W. Wilson Company, Annual.

10. Statistical Sources (current year)

  • Report of Vital Statistics, Office of Health Policy and Analysis, Statistical Analysis Unit, Ohio Dept. of Health, Annual. (two-year lag time)
  • Statistical Abstract of the United States: The National Data Book, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Annual.

11. Occupational Information (current year)

  • Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Dept. of Labor, Biennial.

12. Ohio Resources (current edition)

  • State of Ohio Executive Budget, Ohio Office of Budget and Management, Annual.
  • Official Roster: Federal, State, County Officers, and Departmental Information, Ohio Secretary of State, Biennial.
  • Ohio Legislative Directory, provided by Ohio Library Council, Annual.
  • Resource Ohio, Ohio Department of Development, Irregular.

Major Point: Identify and familiarize yourself with the essential, recommended, and useful resources in your library and on the Web.

 

Exercise

1. Locate any of the resources on the Essential List in your library that are unfamiliar to you and use the Book Examination Checklist to examine them. Try to do at least one a day.

Answers

Next!
Dewey Decimal System

 

What's new in reference?

Recommended reference books

Watch for the latest editions of recommended reference books. For example, Libraries Unlimited has a recommended reference books series including Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-sized Libraries and Media Centers 2007 Edition, Volume 27. Hysell, Shannon Graff.

Identify and familiarize yourself with resources on the essential, recommended, and useful resources lists.

Ohio Libraries

More than the essentials, videos at London Public Library

But sometimes you need more than the essentials! Holiday movies at the library. [Karla Arnold]

Learn More!

Do you want to Learn More about recommended resources?

Do you want to Learn More about useful resources?

Web Links

Look at the 'Best of the Best' Business Web Sites, organized by subjects and compiled by the Education Committee of the Business Reference and Services Section

Guidelines for Information Services 2.2 states: "The library should develop an information resources collection and development policy consistent with the goals of its institution or community. These information resources should satisfy through content, currency, format, organization, and quantity a diversity of user needs."
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