What are "Reference" sources anyway?
Upon beginning a research project, it's often useful to consult a few "reference" sources, as they can provide you with a quick introduction to your topic. Reference works include materials such as

• almanacs • atlases • bibliographies • dictionaries • directories • encyclopedias

• handbooks/guides • indexes • statistical texts • thesauri • yearbooks

 

 

 

 

Basically, they're the kinds of books that you don't read all the way through, but rather you consult specific sections of them when you want a brief overview of a topic or you need to find an answer to a specific question. Some of these sources cover a broad range of subjects, such as Encyclopedia Britannica, while others focus on a specific subject, such as The Encyclopedia of Women and Sport in America.

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When might I want to use a reference source?
Reference sources, particularly encyclopedias, can help you to become familiar with the terms, concepts, major figures, and groups that relate to your topic. Articles in reference texts are also often helpful in positioning a topic within a historical context, highlighting particular time-frames and regions that bear a significant relationship to your topic. As such, the information provided in reference sources can prove helpful when it comes to conducting searches and evaluating the books and articles you find.

Consider consulting reference sources for:
• • •	Introductions to a topic Brief summaries of a topic Key terms and names to search for in indexes and databases	•	Lists of additional and generally more extensive sources that may be helpful to you (bibliographies/works cited lists)
		•	Facts and statistics to support a statement or conclusion

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Can I check out reference sources?
Reference materials cannot be checked-out. The library wants them to be always available for patrons who need relatively quick answers to their questions.

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How can I find reference sources?
You could browse the reference stacks, located on the first floor of Ingram Library, (right next to the research computers), but a more efficient way of finding reference resources would be to do a search using the library catalog.

1. From the library homepage (http://www.westga.edu/~library/), click on either the "catalog" link at the top of the page or the "Search for Books" link on the left side of the page.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Once you arrive at the Library Catalog, you have the option of doing a Quick Search,” or you can select the “Keyword Search” or “Exact Search” options.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click on the "Keyword Search" tab.
   
   
4. From the "Keyword" Search screen, click on the "Narrow My Search" button, located at the bottom right of all the search options.
   
   
   
   
5. From this screen, you can narrow your search by selecting any of the options on the various menus. Some particularly helpful limiters include:

• Language: a helpful option if you only want to search for books written in say, Spanish, French, etc.
• Location: this is helpful if you only want to search for reference books, government documents, or only those books that you can actually check out (Circulating Collection).
• Date of publication: only want books published within a specific time frame? Choose this option.
• Medium: this option is particularly helpful if you want to find a video or a sound recording.
  
  
  
  
  6. To find reference materials, select "Reference" from the "Location" menu.
  
  7. Click, "Narrow My Search."
  
  8. Now all the records you pull up will be located in Ingram Library's Reference Area.
  
  9. If you're just looking for any reference source related to your topic and are not particular about the type of source, simply type in your keywords in the search window.
  
  10. If you're looking for a particular type of reference resource, such as an encyclopedia, include that word in the search box as well, i.e., "psychology encyclopedias"
  
  11. You can limit your search further by selecting "Keyword (Title/Subject)" from the "Search in" menu.
  
  
  12. After finding relevant records, jot down the call numbers and look for them in the Reference Area stacks. Ask a reference librarian if you have trouble finding the texts you're after.

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