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Reference Books Includes:
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General and subject-specific reference books provide brief overviews or summaries on any given topic. They can include background information, factual data, key ideas, important dates, and concepts. |
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Circulating Books Includes:
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Books typically provide an in-depth examination of any given topic, usually from a retrospective point of view. Research-oriented books are works of non-fiction. Fiction works include novels, short stories, and poetry.
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Journal Articles Also known as:
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Journal articles provide in-depth research on very specific topics. Journals cover a wide variety of disciplines. Articles are written by experts in the field and use vocabulary or jargon from a particular field of study. In addition, articles usually have cited references that will point you to other relevant research. Journal articles tend to be lengthy and are typically published on a monthly or quarterly basis. |
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Magazine & Newspaper Articles Also known as:
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Magazine and newspaper articles provide up-to-date information on the latest developments on various issues or current events. Issues and events covered can be local, regional, national, and worldwide. Articles are usually written by freelance writers and many times articles can be unsigned. Articles are written for a general audience and contain simpler vocabulary. Articles tend to be short in length and are typically published on a daily (newspapers), weekly or monthly basis (magazines). |
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Web Includes:
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The web allows you to access most types of information including multimedia on the Internet through a web browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. One of the main features of the web is the ability to quickly link to information. The web contains information beyond plain text, including audio, images and video. Since anyone can publish on the web, you need to carefully evaluate what you retrieve through search engines such as Google. |
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Government Sources Include:
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Government sources from all levels of government (international, national, state and local) provide both historical and current information including legislation, reports and statistical data.
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Primary Sources Include:
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Primary sources provide first-hand experiences of events. Information is generally presented in its original form: a work of art or literature; an account of an event; an experience; or original documents. |
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Primary Sources: Materials which have not been interpreted by another person. Original document/writing created at or near the time an event occurred. Primary sources provide first hand accounts or experiences of events. Information is generally presented in its original form, whether it be a work of literature or art, or an account of an event or experience, or original documents or research products such as interviews, speeches, questionnaires, letters, diaries, manuscripts, memoirs, etc. Includes books, periodicals, and web sites.
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Secondary Sources: Secondary sources provide second hand accounts of events. These sources include materials that have been reported, analyzed, or interpreted by people who do not have firsthand knowledge of an event and may be found in books or periodicals, or on web sites.
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