INFORMATION LITERACY

1. INFORMATION LITERACY SOURCES OF INFORMATION

2. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Learning Objectives • identify where information comes from • understand different categories of information • Understand how and why different categories of information are used

3. SOURCES OF INFORMATION

4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION • Information available from many sources: government sources, academia, private sources. • Information sources can be primary, secondary or tertiary • Primary sources • first published records of original research and development or description of new application or new interpretation of old theme or idea.

5. SOURCES OF INFORMATION • Primary…. • original documents representing unfiltered original idea • constitute latest available information. • unorganized sources which are rather different to use themselves • A subject becomes a discipline in its own right when independent primary sources begin to be produced in that area.

6. SOURCES OF INFORMATION • Primary sources help researchers to: • Keep themselves up-to-date and well informed of the new developments • Avoid duplication in research and help others to build on this by means of further work and thus generate more information. • published in a variety of forms - journal articles, research monographs, research reports, patent , dissertation

7. SOURCES OF INFORMATION • Secondary sources • Compiled from or refer to primary sources of information. • original information having been usually modified, selected or reorganized so as to serve a definite purpose or group of users • contain organized repackaged knowledge rather than new knowledge • more easily and widely available than primary sources • not only provide digested information but also serve as bibliographical key to primary sources of information

8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION • Secondary…. • Examples : indexes, bibliographies, indexing periodicals, abstracting periodicals, textbooks, encyclopaedias, dictionaries, handbooks, tables, manuals, translations.

9. SOURCES OF INFORMATION • Tertiary sources • contain information distilled and collected from primary and secondary sources • to aid searcher on information in the use of primary and secondary sources of information • Out of various kinds of sources, tertiary sources are last to appear. • Examples: directories, guides to the literature • Eg A world directory of mathematicians

10. SOURCES OF INFORMATION • Information accessible in three common formats: • Print materials (books, periodicals, etc • Non-print materials (audio visual, multimedia, microfilm, microform) • Electronic forms (Internet, WWW)

11. Print Materials • Books - literature and non-fiction. • Literature comprises works of fiction, drama, essay, poetry, biography (i.e. memoir). • Non-fiction books deal with factual information. • A fiction book (e.g. legend, novel) contains material that may not be true and that all or part of its characters and scenes are made up by the author to tell a story.

12. Non-fiction books - Textbooks • book of instruction • To impart information about specific subject • to enable one to develop proper understanding of subject • Presentation extremely important • prepared to serve particular level of readership. • good textbook takes into consideration method of teaching and level of readership • revised keeping in view new developments and changing methodology of teaching. • Eg. Textbook of nursing

13. Print Materials (2) Structure of a typical book • Title Page • Verso Page • Table of Contents • Foreword • Preface • Acknowledgments • Introduction • Appendices • Notes and Bibliographies • Index

14. Print Materials (3) Classification of books • Dewey Decimal Classification System • Library of Congress Classification System • Q: Science • Q Science (General) • QA: Mathematics • QB: Astronomy • QC: Physics • QD: Chemistry • QE: Geology

15. Print Materials (4) Locations in a library • Reference collections • Circulating collections • Reserve collections You use a book if you need to: • Look for comprehensive information on a topic; • Extract summaries of research to support an argument; • Locate historical information

16. Periodicals • materials that are published at regular intervals, e.g. weekly, or monthly. • Examples : popular magazines (or general interest magazines), professional and trade magazines, scholarly journals, newsletters, and newspapers.

17. Popular Magazines • General, or non-specialist nature • Geared towards the general public • Articles are shorter and cover variety of topics and are not signed. • Articles are reviewed by internal staff. • Lustrous appearance with many photographs and advertisements • Not good sources for academic research Professional and Trade Magazines • Magazines that present information about a profession or a particular industry

18. Scholarly Journals • Specialize in particular discipline; sponsored by academic or professional organization • Geared towards scholars, researchers and experts in an academic or professional community • Articles are longer and in-depth, written in academic style. • Covering report research, case studies, criticism with many notes and bibliography • Authored by experts in fields of study • Articles are reviewed by an editorial board of esteemed scholars. • With serious, moderate look, fewer photographs or advertisements • Published bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually

19. Newsletters • Periodicals produced by a variety of groups with the objective of informing readers about the activities of the group concerned • Newspapers • Geared towards the general public • Articles are short and easy to understand • Materials focusing on current events, news, and popular topics of the day • Written by journalists and reviewed by internal staff • Good sources for secondary information; may also provide primary information in direct interviews

20. Periodical Index • points to citations of articles in magazines, journals and newspapers • Use a Periodical Index • when researching a topic in magazines, journals or newspapers • when you know a subject but not a specific article

21. Indexes & abstracts • works contain an alphabetical list of names, topics, places, formulae, title of any significant item referring to material presented in main part of the work • Sometimes arranged chronologically, geographically or in some other way. • ABSTRACTS - Information usually conveyed together with indexing system to further identify document content • presents skeletal representation of original document thereby serving as a true surrogate of document

22. Encyclopedias • collections of short, factual entries often written by different contributors who are knowledgeable about the topic. • two types of encyclopedias -- general and subject.  • Use an Encyclopedia • when looking for background information on a topic • when trying to find key ideas, important dates or concepts

23. Dictionaries • contain words of language or terms of subject, profession or vocation arranged according to some definite order usually alphabetical giving meaning, pronunciation, spelling, syllabication. • General dictionaries and specialized dictionaries. • Use a dictionary: • to define or give meaning to words, phrases and expressions • to verify spelling, syllabication or pronunciation • to check on usage, or to determine the etymological history of a word • To determine synonyms, antonyms and homonyms,

24. Bibliographies • lists of written, printed or otherwise produced records of civilization • list of works, whether complete or selective, compiled upon some common principle, such as authorship, subject, place of publication • Uses • To identify and verify – bibliographical citation : author, title, edition and price, ISBN, ISSN. eg • To locate – where the book is published, where it can be found in a library or where it can be purchased. Online website or database located via its address online. • To select – selection from a vast number of possibilities.

25. Handbooks • A compilation of miscellaneous information in a compact and handy form. It contains data, procedures, principles. Tables, graphs, diagrams and illustrations are provided. Scientists and technologists use handbooks in their fields rather frequently. • Eg. Handbook of chemistry and physics: a ready reference book of chemistry and physical data, 52nd ed.

26. Manuals • an instruction book, which instructs how to do something by means of specific and clear directions.

27. Non-print Materials • Audio-visual materials; multimedia • CD ROM DVD • Vast storage capacity • provides user ability to search index, abstract or other reference tool directly

28. Non-print Materials • Microform—microfilm and microfiche • Microfiche - small cards with negative pictures of the pages of a periodical or book. A reader is used to "blow up" the pictures so you can read them. • most periodicals bound into paper volumes, some are instead transferred to microfilm or microfiche. • Libraries use these formats to preserve paper and as a way to make the best use of space.

29. Non-Print materials

30. Activity • Visit your library and examine all sources mentioned in class