This document provides guidance on conducting reference interviews and researching information sources. It outlines the steps to take which include conducting a reference interview, getting an overview of the topic, listing keywords, evaluating and consolidating findings, and following up with the client. The document emphasizes evaluating sources for quality and relevance, and using a variety of source types such as print materials, online databases, government and educational websites. It also provides tips for note taking and organizing research.

1. Miller Library and Information Service
Understanding
Information Sources:
online
www.swsi.tafensw.edu.au
Version 3 2012

2. Information Sources
“any book, document, database or person which provides information”
Dictionary of Information and Library
Management, 2006 A&C Black
Publishers, London.

3. Conduct the reference interview
Talk to your client (reference interview)
and take notes
 When asking what the client wants:
 What do they really want?
 What is the question?
 Type and amount?
 Why is the material needed?
 Who is the client?
 How recent should the information be?
 When do they need the information?

4. Now you’re on your own!
Prepare yourself.
Have pen, paper and post-it notes
ready at all times, for note taking
and
Marking resources

5. Get an overview of the topic
Go to an encyclopaedia or reference source to
get an overview of the topic.

6. List key words
These words will help you look up information
on the topic.
Use a thesaurus if necessary.
Brainstorm key words with other staff and
sometimes even customers.

7. Make a source card/ page
Write down all resources you will use or you
have used for information.
For online resources, as they are found print
the 1st page of the site.
Do this as you go along, it will save time at the
end.

8. Use a range of resources
 Print
 Online – including YouTube,
 TeacherTube
 Databases
 Audio-Visual

9. Evaluate what you find
• Evaluate the quality and usefulness of the information
• Relevance – significant to your topic
• Currency – how old is an article
• Authority – who wrote or published the article
• Reliability – general or academic information

10. Evaluate your online references
• Finding information on the internet
• Tutorial: the Internet Detective

11. Find internet resources
• Use search engines. Check to see if your class
has a bibliography or Studylink created by
librarians.

12. Internet Directories
• Tafe Studylinks –
https://www.tafensw.edu.au/library/studylinks/
• BUBL – http://bubl.ac.uk/
• IPL (Internet Public Library) – http://www.ipl.org/

13. Encyclopaedias/ Encyclopedias
• Tafe Studylinks
• Catholic Encyclopedia –
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/

14. Dictionaries
• Tafe Studylinks
• Macquarie – Dictionaries
http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anony
mous@9c9FF96443718/-/p/dict/index.html
• Google search (Define:_____) –
http://www.google.com.au/

15. Government Sources
• Tafe Studylinks
• Use a gateway or know the Government
Department, for example:
Department of Local Government
http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_index.asp

16. Online maps/ Images
• Tafe Studylinks
• Google Earth
• Google image search
• Google map search
• Panoramio –
http://www.panoramio.com/map/

17. Consolidate your research
• Put your research into some sort of order for
your customer, such as, a report, sample
pages or bibliography.
• You would have discussed this at the reference
interview.

18. Contact your customer, by the due date!

19. Evaluate your work
• What did you learn from your research?
• Was the final product what the customer
wanted?
• Did the customer find your research useful?
• File your notes, source cards, printout for
future reference.

20. Celebrate!
• When you’re finished, celebrate.
Start the next job, catch up with other
work or get creative in the office!

21. Bibliography for this presentation
• Australian Flexible Learning, The Initial Reference Interview, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/demosites/series3/309/content/bc/index.htm>
• Centre for Digital Library Research, BUBL Link, viewed 18 June 2009 <http://bubl.ac.uk/>
• Cornell University, 2004, Critically Analyzing Information Sources, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill26.htm>
• Google, 2009, viewed 18 June 2009 <http://www.google.com.au/>
• Google, 2007, Panoramio, viewed 18 June 2009 <http://www.panoramio.com/map/>
• Intute Virtual Training Suite, 2008, Internet Detective, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/>
• IPL Consortium, 2009, IPL: the Internet Public Library, viewed 18 June 2009 <http://www.ipl.org/>
• Knight, Kevin, 2009, The Catholic Encyclopedia, viewed 18 June 2009 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/>
• LII, 2008, Librarians’ Internet Index, viewed 18 June 2009 <http://www.lii.org/>
• Macquarie Dictionary, 2009, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@919FF955703890/-/p/dict/index.html?>
• Mixed Soup, 2009, Weekend Office Jokes – Part I, viewed 18 June 2009 <http://www.mixedsoup.com/gallery-
weekend-office-jokes-part-i/>
• NSW Department of Education & Training,2009, Tafe Studylinks, viewed 18 June 2009
<https://www.tafensw.edu.au/library/studylinks/welcome.htm>
• NSW Government, 2008, Department of Local Government, viewed 18 June 2009
<http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_index.asp>
• TeacherTube, 2009, viewed 2 July 2009 <http://teachertube.com/>
• YouTube, 2009, viewed 2 July 2009 <http://www.youtube.com