Choosing Reference Works in the
Meade Memorial Library
What
is a Reference Work?
Deciding
What You Need
A Glossary
of Types of Reference
Works
Asking for Help
Web Version of this Tutorial
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What is a “Reference Work”?

Broad Definition
– Any material which is used to obtain
authoritative information.

Reference works
– usually are not read from cover to cover,
– but are consulted for definite items of
information.
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What is a “Reference Work”?
In the Meade Memorial
Library, it’s a book
shelved in the Reference
Room, for use only in
the Library.
 See the Glossary for types of reference
works.

Reference works of all kinds are tools for
researchers. As with any tool, ease of use
will come with practice. So, let’s go!

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Deciding What You Need: Using
the Right Tools

You wouldn’t try to build a house
with scissors, glue and a hole-punch.
A measuring tape, saw and a hammer
are tools better suited to the task.
What you want to end up with when
you finish will determine which tools
you use.
 Ask yourself, “What do I want to
know?”

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Deciding What You Need: Using
the Right Tools

Write a thesis statement that states your
research topic and its aspects.
–
The thesis statement tells briefly what you
believe to be true about a topic, or what
should be done to resolve an issue.
–
You may have to rewrite
it after you discover more
about your topic or issue.
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Deciding What You Need: Using
the Right Tools
You need to find out whether or not
you can support your thesis
statement.
6
Deciding What You Need:
What kind of information could
support your thesis?
 Fill in the blank:
– “If I knew ________________, then I
could support my thesis.”

This will tell you which tool to use.
7
Deciding What You Need:
Six Key Questions to Ask
1. Is it a passage of Bible text itself that
I am trying to understand?
2. Am I trying to determine the
meaning of a word in its original
language?
3. Is it a theological topic I am curious
about?
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Deciding What You Need:
Six Key Questions to Ask
4. Is it a historical or cultural
event?
5. Is it a geographical question?
6. Is it biographical?
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1.
Is it a passage of Bible text itself
that I am trying to understand?
 Go to the Glossary
– The kind of reference work most likely to deal
with the meaning of a particular passage of a
Bible book is a ________________________.
If you said,
“COMMENTARY,”
you are correct.
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2.
Am I trying to determine the
meaning of a word in its original
language?
 Go to the Glossary
– The kind of reference work most likely to deal
with the meaning of a word in its original
language is a ________________________.
If you said,
“LEXICON,” “WORDBOOK”
or “CONCORDANCE,”
you are correct.
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3.
Is it a theological topic I am curious
about?
 Go to the Glossary
– The kind of reference work most likely to deal
with how theologians have understood a Biblical
teaching is a ________________________.
If you said,
“SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY” or
“HANDBOOK,”
you are correct.
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4.
Is it a historical or cultural event?
 Go to the Glossary
– The kind of reference work most likely to give
background information on a period of time is a
________________________.
If you said,
“BIBLE DICTIONARY” or
“COMMENTARY,”
you are correct.
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5.
Is it a geographical question?
 Go to the Glossary
– The kind of reference work most likely to give
information on a place and its people is a
________________________.
If you said,
“ATLAS,”
you are correct.
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6.
Is it biographical?
 Go to the Glossary
– The kind of reference work most likely to give
information on a person in the Bible is a
________________________.
If you said,
“BIBLE DICTIONARY,”
you are correct.
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6.
Is it biographical?
 Go to the Glossary
– The kind of reference work most likely to give
information on a person NOT mentioned in the
Bible is a ________________________.
If you said,
“BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY,”
you are correct.
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Deciding What You Need:
All Reference Works are Not Created Equal
Factors in Evaluating Information
 Authorship
– Who wrote it?
 Publisher
– Who made the material available to you?
 Objectivity
– Were they objective in their analysis of a problem
or issue, or is there an expression of bias in what
you found?
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Deciding What You Need:
All Reference Works are Not Created Equal
More Factors in Evaluating Information
 Currency
– How current is what you found
and how current does it need to be?
 Referral to other sources
– Does the source you are evaluating refer you to
other sources either in print or on the web?
 Verifiability
– Are results that you are presented with able to be
verified elsewhere either in print or on the web?
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Deciding What You Need:
All Reference Works are Not Created Equal
A handy guide for evaluating sources
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Glossary:
Types of Reference Works in the Meade
Memorial Library

Atlas
– A bound collection of maps often including charts,
tables, and illustrations.

Bible Dictionary
– A book or set of books containing articles on
various topics, usually in alphabetical order,
covering various or specific aspects of knowledge
(may also be referred to as an encyclopedia).
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Glossary:
Types of Reference Works in the Meade
Memorial Library

Biographical Dictionary
– A book or set of books that provides accounts of
the lives of notable men and women from ancient
times to the present day. (A Web example can be
found at http://www.s9.com/biography/.)

Commentary
– A series of comments, explanations, or annotations
on books of the Bible. The best commentaries will
often begin by discussing higher critical issues.
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Glossary:
Types of Reference Works in the Meade
Memorial Library

Concordance
– An alphabetical index of the words of the Bible,
with reference to the passage in which each occurs
and usually to some part of the context. Often the
English words are keyed to their original language
counterparts.

Handbook
– A scholarly book on a specific subject, often
consisting of separate essays or articles.
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Glossary:
Types of Reference Works in the Meade
Memorial Library

Lexicon
– A wordbook or dictionary of a particular language
indicating the meaning of words and of idiomatic
combinations of words.

Systematic Theology
– A book that attempts to relate the various portions
of the Bible to one another in an effort to formulate
its topical teachings (doctrines) into a harmonious,
consistent whole.
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Glossary:
Types of Reference Works in the Meade
Memorial Library







Wordbook
– A book of words found in the Old and/or New
Testament books, usually with definitions, and
explanations.
Return to Question 1.
Return to Question 2.
Return to Question 3.
Return to Question 4.
Return to Question 5.
Return to Question 6.
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Asking for Help
 A Christian College library is a unique
storehouse of information.
– In the beginning everyone needs time to find his/her
way around.
 The reference librarians are eager to assist
students and faculty.
– “I don’t know what I don’t know” is true for every
searcher. We all start at the same place.
– Ask for help!
 You may also email questions to the Director of
Library Services:
[email protected]
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Asking for Help
Don’t be bashful … we like questions
Attend our Library training sessions
Investigate Dewey Decimal
Classification and other library tutorials
– A Story About the Dewey Decimal System
of Classification
– Let's Do Dewey
– A Library Research Tutorial
•Relax and Enjoy a Great Book!
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