Locating Reference Materials

After searching GALILEO, our online catalog, and finding the resource that you wish to locate, look at the exact location information in the rectangular box on the GALILEO results screen. Each record will display a location, a call number, and status. Unless the words "Law" or "Career Center" precede the rest of the phrase, all location information refers to a place in the Christopher Center. Call numbers determine where books are shelved within that location, and status notes if a book is on the shelf, checked out, on Reserve, stored in the ASRS, on hold, or "lib. use only" (which is the status of all Reference books--library use only).

Reference Room materials are given call numbers using the same system that the general materials are given. The subject area call numbers that you find in the Reference Room are the same that you'll find in the Christopher Center's general stacks on the third and fourth floors. For more information about call numbers, see the User Guide about them.

The examples below each show different areas that actual Reference materials may be located within. The boxes represent the GALILEO screen's location box.

The Dictionary of Art:
 
LOCATION  CALL NO. STATUS
CLR-Reference-2nd Floor N31 .D5 1996  LIB. USE ONLY 

 This item is in the "N" stacks area in the Reference Room.

Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature:
AI3 .R48 Location CLR-Reference-2nd Floor
   LIB. HAS Vol. 1 (1900-1904)- to date

This series is found at the start of the Reference stacks--just beyond the Reference Desk..

Atlas of American History:
 
LOCATION  CALL NO. STATUS
CLR-Atlas Shelves-2nd FL G1201.S1 A8 1984 LIB. USE ONLY

This item is on the Atlas Shelves in the midst of the Reference Room shelves.

The Music Index, volume 50:
LOCATION  CALL NO. STATUS
CLR-Reference-2nd Floor ML118 .M84 1998 [v. 50] LIB. USE ONLY 

 This item is in the "M" stacks area in the Reference Room.

Reference Materials: A Quick Overview

You'll quickly become familiar with many types of Reference materials as you use them. Some of the more common ones are listed below. For information on other library terms, check the Library Jargon page.

Almanac
Usually published yearly, almanacs contain useful data and statistics about specific countries or subjects. 

Bibliography, Sourcebook
A list of citations of books, articles, and other materials compiled on a specific topic. Bibliographies may be found at the end of books or articles, or may be separate publications. Each bibliographic citation contains identifying information (e.g., title, author, publisher, date and place of publication) so that the reader can locate the item. Special bibliographies on current research interests of students are occasionally compiled by Library Services staff.

Biography
Biographies provide information about notable people's lives and their accomplishments. Check their bibliographies or references lists to see other works that could contain additional information about the person.

Dictionary
An alphabetical listing of words with short descriptions of their meanings and applications. Dictionaries can be general, such as Webster's, or subject specific, such as the Dictionary of Nursing Theory and Research.

Directory
One of a number of Quick Reference tools, a directory provides systematic access to concise factual information on specific subjects, people, or organizations.

Encyclopedia
Found in both print and electronic formats, encyclopedias contain lengthy informational articles, written by experts, on subjects in every field of knowledge, usually arranged in print in alphabetical order. They can be general, such as World Book, or subject specific, such as the Encyclopedia of American Education.

Guide
One of a number of quick reference tools, a guide (or guidebook) presents quick, systematic access to concise factual information on how to use a resource or how to explore a place, city, or region.

Handbook
Provides easy access to other information sources in a given field of knowledge. A handbook's scope is purposely limited and should be used as a referral resource.

Index
A printed or electronic resource indicating where a source of information may be located. For example, an index located at the back of a book is an alphabetical list of topics covered in that book, along with references to the pages where the topics are discussed. Multi-volume encyclopedias, such as the Encyclopedia of Religions, often have a separate index volume that refers the reader to the specific volume(s) that have information on the desired topic.

A periodical index, such as The Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, offers different access points to search by, such as author name, subject, or type of article. Electronic indexes provide easy access to information using search strategies that may have otherwise taken you through volume after volume.

Manual
Along with other quick reference sources, manuals provide expert background information on a given field of knowledge. For unfamiliar subjects, a good subject dictionary should accompany your use of a manual.

Reference Department Information