The document discusses different ways of organizing information and characteristics of information. It describes how information can be categorized as analytical or factual, objective or subjective, and primary or secondary. It also discusses different formats that information can take such as books, periodicals, and non-print. The document then provides examples of classification systems used to organize information, such as library catalogs and the Library of Congress system.

1. Organization of Information GNED 104 Research Methods Wilfred Drew, Associate Librarian

2. What is “information” & why organize it? 1: the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence. 2: knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction.

3. Characteristics of Information Analytical or Factual Objective or Subjective Primary or Secondary Format (physical form)

4. Characteristics of Information Analytical Information: interpretation of facts. Example: encyclopedias, books, magazines. Factual Information: made up of facts only, no explanations or interpretations of statements. Examples: statistics, dictionaries, who’s who.

5. Characteristics of Information Objective Information: presents all sides of a topic. Example: encyclopedias, reference books. Subjective Information: presents one view point or opinion. Examples: editorials, book reviews, critical essays.

6. Characteristics of Information Primary Information: information in original form or copy of original form. Example: diary, art work, raw data. Secondary Information: repackaged, any material other than original. Examples: gossip, class notes, encyclopedias.

7. Characteristics of Information Books: printed on paper and stored on shelves. Periodicals : printed on paper and stored on shelves or as microfilm in cabinets. Non- print: on computers,tapes, cassettes,cd,DVD, cd-rom, radio & TV broadcasts, etc. Includes electronic books & full text of magazines online. Format (physical form): each requires different type of storage

8. How Organized Are You? Clothes CDs Homework Addresses and phone numbers

9. Classification Systems Used to organize information. Simplifies access and searching. Examples: Newspaper Want Ads Yahoo Menu Library

10. Yahoo -- Uses subject categories from general to specific: Home > Education > Higher Education > Colleges and Universities > United States > New York > Education > College and University > Community and Technical http://www.yahoo.com/

11. Restaurant Menu: Grouped by type of food item: Sandwiches Fresh Salads Beverages & Deserts Potatoes Pitas Wendy's

12. Library of Congress (LC): Organizes the library by broad groups. Assigns each book or item a unique call number. Assigns each book various subject headings for searching purposes. Library Catalog

13. LC organizes by broad groups

14. LC assigns each book or item a unique call number. Call Number is similar to your mailing address Call Number is used to find a book on the shelf . Examples: GV351 . S23 1998 GV351 . Z56 1999

15. LC assigns each book various subject headings Each item has several headings assigned. Allows you to search for a specific subject. Examples: Scholarships -- United States-- Statistics. College costs -- United States-- Statistics.