Reference Works

1. Reference Works Dictionaries Encyclopaedia

2. Reference Works Defined : • Reference works may be defined as the essential tools of historical research. • Examples of Reference works include : Almanacs, atlases, bibliographies, chronologies, compilations, concordance, dictionaries, directories, encyclopaedias, gazeteer, guides, handbooks, lists, indexes, registers, thesaurus. • MacIntyre, S. 2001. Reference works : the Oxford companion to Australian history. Edited by G Davidson, J Hirst and S MacIntyre. Oxford Reference Online : Oxford University Press. • http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t127.e1233 (Accesses 02 July 2010)

3. Types of Reference Works • Almanac : a handbook, typically published annually, containing information of general interest or on a sport or pastime. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses) • Atlas : The term Atlas is used chiefly for a book of maps (From A New Dictionary of Eponyms in English Language Reference

4. Types continued … • Bibliography :( pl. bibliographies ) a list of the books referred to in a scholarly work, typically printed as an appendix. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses) • Chronology : the study of historical records to establish the dates of past events. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses)

5. Types continued … • Concordance : an alphabetical list of the words (especially the important ones) present in a text or texts, usually with citations of the passages concerned or with the context displayed on a computer screen: a concordance to the Bible. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses) • Dictionary : Book that lists in alphabetical order, words and their definitions. A dictionary may be general or subject oriented...(From World Encyclopedia in Encyclopedia)

6. Types continued … • Directory : otherwise known as almanacs, post office directories, and gazetteers, list the names and addresses of individuals and businesses, usually both alphabetically and by street or town address. (From The Oxford Companion to Australian History in History) • Encyclopaedia: An encyclopaedia is a reference work containing concise, factual overviews on a vast number of topics. An encyclopaedia can either be general or subject specific. (From The College Student’s Research Companion in English Language Reference)

7. Types continued … • Gazette : a journal or newspaper, especially the official one of an organization or institution. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses) • Handbook : a book giving information such as facts on a particular subject or instructions for operating a machine. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses) • Index (in a book or set of books) an alphabetical list of names, subjects, etc. with reference to the pages on which they are mentioned. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses)

8. Types continued … • Register : an official list or record of names or items: a membership register. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses) • Thesaurus : a book that lists words in groups of synonyms and related concepts. (From The Oxford Dictionary of English (2nd edition revised) in English Dictionaries & Thesauruses)

9. Dictionaries • Language dictionaries General Language : Collins English dictionary - R 423 COL Translating : English-Xhosa dictionary - 496.33S41.43 FIS • Subject Dictionaries Oxford Dictionary of business and management – R 658.003 COL The new Palgrave Dictionary of money and finance – R 332.03 NEW • Biographical Dictionaries Dictionary of South African biography : 920.068 DIC

10. Encyclopaedia • General The World Book encyclopedia – R 032 WOR • Subject The encyclopedia of organizational change methods / Huizyuski, A. - R 658.40603 HUY The international encyclopedia of marketing / European Marketing Confederation (EMC) – R 658.8003 INT Encyclopedia of knowledge management / Schwartz, D.G. – R 658.403 803 ENC

11. Finding Dictionaries & Encyclopaediaon OPAC • Use a Keyword Search : • Dictionaries = dictionaries and finance • Encyclopaedia = encyclopedia and economics