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Ohio Library Council
Module Module 4
Introduction 4
Search strategies
Patron sources
Subjects & terms
Indexing
Look it up
Accuracy
Asking experts
Info & Referral
Referrals
Keeping track
Inform patron
Review 4
Quiz 4
Answer 4
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Answer Key

Suggested Answers for Module 4 Exercises

Patron's sources

Q:

     Once you know your patron's question and initial source of information, you would frequently begin looking for information in the reference collection. In the following exercise and throughout this module you will be working with the library catalog and four basic reference tools, available in most libraries, to help you become acquainted with subject headings and index terms.

     Select your four reference books: 1) an encyclopedia such as World Book, 2) an almanac such as Information Please Almanac or World Almanac & Book of Facts, 3) a large dictionary, and 4) an atlas such as Goode's World Atlas to use for the following exercise. Use online versions if that is the process in your library. For each of the resources look for information about Ohio.

  1. How many different places can you find Ohio information in each of the four resources? Use the indexes or table of contents to determine this.
  2. Which resources have the most information about Ohio?
  3. In addition to the four resources, where else could you find information about Ohio in your library? For example: pamphlet files, genealogy collections, history collections, map files, videos, audiocassettes, Internet, library web site, adult collection, children's collection, fiction, non-fiction, biography, special stuff kept in a worn out folder at the reference desk, etc.

     Throughout this module you will be working more with these books, so keep your answers and the books handy.

A: 

     Encyclopedias will have a large entry about the state, but other information may be found in separate articles under specific subjects - use the index volume of the encyclopedia! Also use the index for the Almanac because Ohio information will be in different sections. For example, city populations, president's birthplaces, geographic features, etc. would be in separate places even if they had Ohio information. The Atlas has a lot of Ohio information, but you would need to look carefully at the introduction to see how to use the map features, and you would also want to look at a table of contents or index for any special features on states. Dictionaries would have short entries but large dictionaries may have material in appendices about states.

Subjects & terms

Q:

     1. Use your online catalog to see how many subject headings there are for Ohio. Example: Ohio--Encyclopedias or Almanacs--Ohio.

    One way to find reference materials for Ohio is to use the term Ohio with other terms such as atlas, bibliography, dictionary, directory, gazetteer, handbook, periodical, index, or yearbook as keywords to find specific Ohio resources.

     2. Find out where all those mysterious subject headings come from? Look for Ohio subject headings in a copy of the Sears List of Subject Headings, if your library is arranged by Dewey, or the Library of Congress Subject Headings. Catalogers assign the subject headings to the catalog records and understanding more about the headings will help your reference work. If you really, really want to know, talk to a cataloger!

A:

     If someone in your library is a cataloger, ask them about subject headings. Look at the introductory materials in the subject heading books and look in the catalog at some of the subject headings shown to get an idea of how it all works. Just remember that subject headings are assigned carefully and for specific reasons to books in your library's collection.

Indexing

Q:

     Using the four reference books from the exercise on the Reference Sources page, do the following:

  1. Examine the subject headings or index terms used in the books.
  2. Are the books arranged by subject heading and is this reflected in the Table of Contents?
  3. Do they have indexes?
  4. Are the indexes easy to understand and use?
  5. How similar or different are the index terms or subject headings among the books, i.e. do they use the same terms for the same topics?
  6. Do you think that the terms used would be the terms your patrons would expect to find?

A:

     You will get the most from reference sources if you take time to examine the organization of each source you use.

Accuracy

Q:

     Using the four reference books (or others you located) from the exercise on the Reference Sources page, do the following:

  1. In each of the sources, look up information on world population and on the population of Ohio. Be sure and check the index or table of contents of each source to locate all information that may pertain to population.
  2. Is the information the same in the different sources, i.e. does the content of the information conflict, not just the amount of information?
  3. Can you get all the information from just one of the sources if the patron wants to know about the issue of over-population of the world?
  4. Look at the publication date to determine how old the information is. Find out if there are newer editions available that might have more current information.
  5. What is the result for your patron if you use old information?
  6. What is the result for your patron if you use only one source of information and it is not the most complete source?

A:

     If your patron is only looking for a number, the almanac or atlas would have it, but these may be out of date if relying on older census information. Even the simplest question can have conflicting answers in different reference sources, e.g. for issues on world population. Any information that changes often is seldom accurate in printed sources. Also consider how difficult it is to determine accuracy and currency for Internet resources.

Asking experts

Q:

  1. Which of the four resources you've been working with has information on the population of your town, your county, or the state?
  2. Is there someone in your library or in your community who would have this information?

A:

     If you live in a major city, population information will be easier to find, even in entries for the state in some encyclopedias and in the almanacs. Road atlases usually show city populations for most small towns. Dictionaries often have surprising information in appendices. The local Chamber of Commerce or tourist board often have demographic information available.

Info & Referral

Q:

  1. Does your library have a list, directory, or database of groups or agencies in your community to use for Information and Referral?

Keeping track

Q:

  1. Study the form that your library uses to keep track of reference questions.
  2. Are there areas on the form for describing the question resulting from the reference interview, listing sources checked, noting when patron was informed, referral status, and citation of the source where answer was found?
  3. Does your library keep track of reference questions all the time or at certain times of the year? How are the statistics used?
  

 

 

 

Take note!

There are no "right" answers for many of these questions. Discuss the questions with your supervisor or other staff members to learn how things work in your library.
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