A biography is an account of the special and important events in a person's life. It should not be confused with the similar sounding term bibliography, which is a listing of books and articles on a topic.

Types of Biographical Resources:

Biographical information is found in a variety of formats ranging from full-length books, to entries in collected works such as encyclopedias and biographical dictionaries, to articles in periodicals (journals, magazines and newspapers). Biographies may be brief and cover only basic information about a person's life such as dates of birth and death, education and vocation. A biography may also be very detailed, and cover the cultural background, outstanding accomplishments, and historical significance of an individual. Biographical sources cover both living and deceased persons, notable persons of a particular nationality, persons in specific occupations, celebrities, and civil and government leaders.

Organization of Biographical Reference Resources:

Most biographical sources are organized by nationality, time period, profession, or some other factor common to the people included.

It is helpful when searching for biographical information to know the person's:

• full name and correct spelling

• date of birth

• date of death (when applicable)

• ethnic origin

• nationality or country of residence

• occupation or profession

Primary biographical sources are sources written by the person you are researching. These first-hand sources can include autobiographies, diaries, letters, speeches, and poems. Primary sources can also include audio recordings, film recordings, or transcripts of interviews in which the person you are researching is the interviewee.

Secondary biographical sources are sources written by someone other than the person you are researching. Secondary sources provide second-hand accounts that analyze, interpret, or comment on a person's life.

• To search for information about the author's life, include the search term - biography.

• If an author's last name is common, include both the first and last name in your search (e.g., stephen king)