This document discusses different types of information sources that can be used for research, including primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. It defines each type of source and provides examples. Primary sources are original materials like research papers, records, and data. Secondary sources are analyses and interpretations of primary sources, like textbooks and commentaries. Tertiary sources synthesize primary and secondary sources, like encyclopedias and bibliographies. The document also discusses open information sources that provide free access to knowledge, like online journals, newspapers, patents, and proceedings. Useful links to open access materials in different subject areas are provided.

2. Free & Open Sources information
on the Web
By
Syed Habib Akhter Jaffri
Senior Librarian
PASTIC National Center
Islamabad

3. What is source?
source
1. The point or place from which something originates
2. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography)
a. A spring that forms the starting point of a stream;
headspring
b. the area where the headwaters of a river rise the source
of the Nile
3. A person, group, etc., that creates, issues, or originates
something the source of a complaint
a. Any person, book, organization, etc., from which
information, evidence, etc., is obtained
b. (as modifier) source material

4. Type of Sources
As you conduct research, you will consult different sources of
information. A professor may request primary, secondary, or
tertiary sources.
Primary sources
The definition of a primary source may vary depending upon the discipline or
context.
 Journal articles published in peer-reviewed publications;
 Letters;
 Newspaper articles written at the time;
 Original Documents;
 Patents;
 Photographs
 Proceedings of Meetings, conferences and symposia;
 Records of organizations, government agencies;
 Speeches;
 Survey Research (e.g., market surveys, public opinion polls);
 Video recordings (e.g. television programs).

5. Secondary sources
They are accounts written after the fact with
the benefit of hindsight. They are
interpretations and evaluations of primary
sources
 Catalogues/ Bibliographies (also considered tertiary);
 Biographical works;
 Commentaries, criticisms;
 Dictionaries, Encyclopedias (also considered tertiary);
 Histories;
 Journal articles (depending on the disciple can be primary);
 Magazine and newspaper articles (this distinction varies by
discipline);
 Monographs, other than fiction and autobiography;
 Textbooks (also considered tertiary);
 Web site (also considered primary).

6. Tertiary sources
Tertiary sources consist of information which is a
distillation and collection of primary and
secondary sources.
 Almanacs;
 Bibliographies (also considered secondary);
 Chronologies;
 Dictionaries and Encyclopedias (also considered secondary);
 Directories;
 Fact books;
 Guidebooks;
 Indexes, abstracts, bibliographies used to locate primary and
secondary sources;
 Manuals;
 Textbooks (also be secondary).

7. What is Open Information Sources ?
Open information sources provide access
to knowledge without the need to pay for
the knowledge itself, although there may be
marginal fees for access (membership in
trade associations, attendance at
conferences, subscriptions to journals).

8. Secondary sources
Bibliographies (also considered tertiary)
 PASTIC
Catalogues
 Union Catalogue of PASTIC ; OPAC of PAK Univ
 World Cat
Dictionaries (also considered tertiary)
 List of Online Dictionaries
Encyclopedias
 Info please
 Wikipedia
Abstracting & indexing
 PASTIC

9. Primary sources
Peer-reviewed Journal articles
NISCAIR Research Journals
New School Education N.Y
Directory of Open Access Journals (D
Newspaper articles
Newspapers

10. Patents
World Patent Offices
Canadian Patents
Proceedings of conferences and symposia
LFG Online Proceedings
Websites
List of Search Engine

11. Learned Societies
For Math
Khan Academy
For Physics
American Association of Physics Teachers

12. Some useful Links
Online open Access Books
Encyclopedia.com
 Kitab-Ghar for Urdu Books
 Biology Corner
 Learners TV
Depth-first.com
Free-ebook
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University

13. Thanks for your
patience
&
Best wishes for this
Seminar