Format Example

Bibliographic Data: Title/Editor-Author-Compiler (whichever applicable)/Publisher.

Also note edition and publication date of installment consulted.

Frequency: Weekly/Monthly/Bi-monthly/Quarterly/Annual/Biennial/Every 3 years, etc.

Also note cumulations.

Arrangement: Alphabetical by term, topic, last name, etc./Classified/Chronological/Geographical.

Noting of subdivisions optional.

Scope/Notes: Subject coverage/Number and type of Indexes/Special features worthy of attention/

Comparison with other notable titles in same reference category.

Elements To Be Evaluated

• Applicability of titles to type/level of library selected.
• Presence of at least five titles within each reference category: dictionaries, encyclopedias, gazetteers, atlases, travel books, handbooks/manuals, biographical resources, directories, bibliographies/ abstracts/indexes, catalogs/union lists, almanacs/yearbooks, government publications, guides to the literature, laser-optical resources, electronic databases.
• Appropriateness of titles to category placement.

1. print tools about computer/multimedia resources do not constitute laser-optical or electronic titles
2. biographical or bibliographical sources lacking an overview of a given discipline's literature are not guides to the literature
3. catalogs/union lists apply only to materials clearly designated as library holdings
4. government publications do not includes works about government publications
5. government publications either of short length (e.g., pamphlets) or lacking an index are rarely good reference tools

• Accuracy of information include.
• Currency of edition consulted (if library used does not have recent editions, the consultation of instructional materials (e.g., Balay's Guide to Reference Materials) an acceptable substitute.
• Thoroughness of scope/notes section.
• Completeness in responding to all four sections of each title (typical pitfall: beginning work on a title included without your packet and then forgetting to complete it at a later date).