You have completed

Chapter 3:
Using Reference Sources 
and Print Indexes

Summary

You should now be able to:

• Identify the basic types of reference sources including general and subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, biographical and statistical sources.
• Understand the nature and unique uses of the different reference sources.
• Find print and electronic reference sources in the CCC Library.  

Expert Advice

There are so many cool and interesting reference books, it's hard to know where to begin. So just dive right in with some practice at the library. Try finding these sources in the library's Reference Stacks:

• World Almanac for the current year
• a general encyclopedia (such as World Book or Encyclopedia Americana)
• a subject encyclopedia (such as the Saint James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture)

Browse through each source to see what type of information is available. Look up something that interests you. And be sure to ask a librarian at the Information Desk if you're not sure about what you're looking for or can't find the material on the shelves.