2. Common reference questions:
• Where were they born?
• How old are they?
• How many times were they married?
• How many children do they have?
• and so many more...
Answering questions about
well-known people
3. • Indexes
• Biographies of Contemporary People
• Retrospective Biography
• One-Volume Biographical Dictionary
• Obituaries
• Subject-based Biographical Tools
• Biographical Resources featuring Ethnic/
Cultural Heritage
Types of Biographical
Resources
4. Explore the biographical resources on the back
tables. Label the type(s) on your handout.
Biographical Resources
HUNT!
5. Discussiontitle type of biographical resource
Barack Obama: The Story
Before They Were Famous: How Seven
Artists Got Their Start
Black Pioneers of Science and Invention
Marilyn Monroe: The Final Years
More than Petticoats: Remarkable Illinois
Women
The New Biographical Dictionary of Film
Remember Me When I’m Gone
Tales of Famous Americans
Women Building Chicago: 1790-1990
6. Disclaimer
*note: all resources used in this assignment are
circulating (via Oak Park Public Library).
Many high-quality biographical resources are
stored in the Reference section, some of
which might be the most appropriate
resources to use when helping a patron with
a query about a well-known person.
7. Dewey
Biographical Resources can be found in these DDC
designations:
• 920-928 Biography (shelved alphabetically by subject's
last name)
8. Evaluating biographical
resources
• scope
• accuracy
• length of entry
• criteria for inclusion
• audience
• authority
• frequency of updates
• photo
• references for further reading
9. Top 10 Biographical
Resources &
Recommended Free
Websites
handout with links available on our 704
dom.edu/mydu coursepage.
