This document provides an overview of various types of ready reference sources including telephone reference centers, almanacs, yearbooks, directories, rankings, and more. It discusses examples like the World Almanac, Whitaker's Almanac, Statistical Abstract of the US, Guinness Book of World Records, Places Rated Almanac, and Google as a ready reference source. It also lists upcoming assignment dates for an intro to information services course.

1. “Ready Reference”
LIS 5603, Intro to Information Services
Dr. Lorri Mon, College of Information

2. “Ready Reference”
“Desk Set” – Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy

3. Telephone Reference Centers
San Antonio Public Library:
“Staff members answering the
Library's main telephone
number (207-2500) answer
reference questions in 5
minutes or less, supply
information about all Central
and branch library activities
and hours…They also keep
up-to-date information on all
local, federal, and world
government officials for ready
reference. There are also over
1,200 reference books in the
Telephone Reference area for
staff to use to answer your
questions. Staff members also
keep a clipping file of answers Quick Answers Center at
for frequently asked
questions.” Seattle Public Library
http://www.sanantonio.gov/library/central/phonereference.asp

4. Ready Reference Questions
• What’s the top rated graduate program for
library and information science?
• How much did shoes cost in 1925?
• In what rank order are you supposed to seat and
greet important people?
• Who was Japan’s minister of education in 1999?
• I have a phone number and I would like to know
whose it is. How can I look it up?

5. Guide to Reference Books/Sources
New Guide to Reference Sources:
http://www.guidetoreference.org/HomePage.aspx
Famous source which goes back over the
decades, known by the editor
Now Kieft, was Balay, formerly Sheehy
Lists recommended reference resources by subject area including
databases,bibliographies, and other useful research tools.

6. Almanacs
Annual – covers one year’s worth of information
Contains statistics, tables & general facts
esp. calendars, chronologies, astronomy, weather
Best selling reference books for centuries -
simple, standard format
symbols & illustrations (e.g. phases of the moon)
zodiac, astrology and predictions
household hints, recipes, remedies
stories, sayings, events of interest
Katz, Bill (1998), From Cuneiform to Computer: A History of Reference Sources.

7. World Almanac & Book of Facts
Old source – editions
from 1868 to date
The bestseller – over 2 World Almanac, 1899 – U.S. Troops in
million sold per year War, Planetary Configurations in 1890
Cost: $29.95
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.

8. Whitaker’s Almanack (United Kingdom)
Old source – editions
from 1869 to date
(Bram Stoker’s
Dracula consulted it)
About 1,300 pages
Cost: $92.00
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.

9. The Confederate Almanac, 1863
Entry for March 1863 with times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise and phases
Included a list of the Confederate
Government officers, governors
of Confederate states, and poems
and prayers to inspire the soldiers.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/almanac1863/taylor.html

10. Old Farmer’s Almanac
Oldest American
almanac (1792 to
date)
4 million copies
distributed in
supermarkets and
drugstores
Cost: $5.95
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.

11. Congressional Quarterly Almanac
Entries from Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 2001

12. The Weather Almanac

13. African American Almanac
Entry under “Science & Technology” for Dr. Mae Jemison, Astronaut

14. Bowker Annual Library & Book Trade Almanac

15. Yearbooks
A year’s accumulation of Europa World Yearbook
events and facts (Countries)
– Originally – a years’ worth
of laws (13th century)
– Expanding to cover years’ Editions from 1926 to
worth of other events: date
• Meeting minutes 2 volumes
• World or industry events Cost: $815.00
• Legislative activities
Katz, Bill (1998), From Cuneiform to Computer: A History of Reference Sources.

16. Europa World Yearbook (Countries)
From 2004 Europa Entry on China:
Editions from 1926 to
date
2 volumes
Cost: $815.00
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.

17. Chase’s Calendar of Events
Entry for “October 30-31” from the 2004 Edition

18. Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
Old source – editions
from 1879 to date
(ends: 2012)
1,500 tables and charts
Cost: (was) free
(US government info is
in the public domain)
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/
Source: Katz, William A. (2002), Introduction to Reference Work, Vol 1.

19. Statistical Record of Older Americans

20. Guinness Book of World Records
Issues in using this: Published annually, 1955-to date
• Not cumulative
• Not standard year to year
(you may have to look
through multiple editions
to find the particular fact
you’re looking for)

21. Rankings
Lists of the “best” or • Places Rated
“most important” Almanac
– Education
• Gourman Report on
– Restaurants Graduate Programs
– Places to stay
– Award winning, • Peterson’s educational
“Seal of Approval” institution rankings

22. Places Rated Almanac
Ranking for “Recreation” – also has scores for Crime, Education, etc.

23. Facts on File
December 10-16, 1941 News Events

24. Editorials on File
Newspaper Editorials in April, 2000

25. Editorials on File
Editorials & Cartoon Editorials for July 1-15, 2000

26. Value of a Dollar
Entry for 1925-1927

27. America Votes 24 (2000)
Washington State’s Post-War Vote for President
2000
1996
1992
1988
1984
1980
1976
1972

28. Kane’s First Facts

29. Directories
• Thomas Register of Manufacturers
• Gale Directory of Databases
• Literary MarketPlace (LMP)
• Martindale-Hubble Lawyer Locator
• Reverse Lookup Directories ( “Haines” or
“Criss-Cross” Directories)

30. Reverse Lookup Directories
http://reversedirectory.langenberg.com/
People may also ask for “Haines” or “Criss-Cross” Directories

31. Google as a Ready Reference Source
All sorts of Google lookups, not just stocks!

32. Next Dates
• Sat, Oct 20: Basic HTML workshop (5:30pm-6:30pm)
– look for an email soon with the link (NOT our usual
classroom) – optional
• Mon, Oct 22: IPL2 Question #1 (first “real user”
question – (was: 10/15)
• NO CLASS NEXT WEEK (OCT 25) – catch up week!
• Mon, Oct 29: IPL2 Question #2 (second“real user”
question
• Tue, Nov. 13: IPL Question #3 & IPL reflective paper
with copies of all questions (email to instructor)
• Mon. Nov 20: Reference interviews and paper (email
to instructor)
• Mon. Dec. 10: Research Guide (email to instructor)