Include both descriptive information and guidelines on a subject. They provide the “how-to” facts such as methods and/or procedures needed to accomplish a task.   

San Jose State University

- bibliographies
- encyclopedias
- almanacs
- directories
- handbooks 
- manuals
- yearbooks
- chronologies 
- abstracts


Types of Reference Resources

Cassell, K. A., & Hiremath, U. (2018). Reference and information services: An introduction (Fourth ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.

Reference and information services: An introduction (Fourth ed.)

Lists of items such as books that are organized by author, title, or subject. These include relevant information on the items that can be used to authenticate information, find items, and choose items for a collection. 

Bibliographies

Provide information on a variety of subjects or on several components of a single subject. 

Encyclopedias

Provide information such as facts, figures, statistics, and dates in a concise format that is usually updated on an annual basis. 

Almanacs

Listings that are classified according to a set order and are re-issued regularly with updated information of numbers, people, institutions, and organizations. They provide the “where” facts such as rankings for a city and the “who” facts such as the contact information of a person.   

Directories

Include factual and descriptive information focused on a single subject. They provide the “what” facts such as the requirements for a specific occupation. 

Handbooks

Manuals

Annual collection of facts that focus on the preceding year. They can document dates, events, persons, places, images, and/or issues. They provide the “which” facts such as the name of an association. 

Yearbooks

Arranged according to date. Events are presented and described according to their date of occurrence. They provide the “when” facts such as details of a major event in U.S. history.  

Chronologies 

An unbiased synopsis of a published work or large body of information. They provide the “which” facts such as which poem falls within the romantic period. 

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