Reference Sources and Information Services
What the exam tests
This domain checks whether you can match an information need to the right reference source and describe reference services. Questions often use a ready-reference query and ask for the best source and the reason.
Core rules and concepts
- Primary sources: original documents such as reports, theses and research articles.
- Secondary sources: interpret or index primary material, such as bibliographies, indexes and review articles.
- Tertiary sources: consolidate facts, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, yearbooks, almanacs and directories.
- Source matching: dictionary for words; encyclopedia for overviews; yearbook or almanac for annual facts and statistics; directory for addresses and organisations; atlas for maps; bibliography for lists of works; index for locating articles.
- Evaluation criteria: authority, scope, accuracy, currency, arrangement and format.
- Services: reference service, referral service, current awareness, selective dissemination of information, interlibrary loan and document delivery.
- Reference interview: clarify the real question, its scope, urgency and acceptable format before searching.
Worked example
A reader asks, 'Who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2023 and what was the citation?' A current yearbook or the official award body's announcement is the best source. Reasoning: the query is a ready-reference factual query needing a recent, authoritative annual record. A general dictionary is too limited, an old encyclopedia may be out of date, and a bibliography would list works, not announce the winner.
Traps
Do not use an encyclopedia when the question needs a one-line current fact. A bibliography lists publications; a catalogue lists a particular library's holdings. An almanac contains calendar and statistical data, while a yearbook reviews a particular year. Do not skip the reference interview and search the wrong subject.
Key skills
Know at least two examples of each source type and be ready to justify currency and authority.