INFS 321 Information Sources Session 3 Selection and Evaluation of Reference Sources Lecturer: Prof. Perpetua S. Dadzie, DIS Contact Information: pdadzie@ug.edu.gh College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/2015 2016/2017 godsonug.wordpress.com/blog
Session Overview At the end of the session, the student will be able to : Describe criteria for selection and evaluation of reference sources Indicate how applicable criteria are to selection and evaluation of electronic resources State what reviewing sources are and explain their usefulness Indicate what Guides to Reference sources are and state its usefulness Slide 2
Session Outline The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows: Topic One : Examine the criteria Authority; Scope & Treatment Topic Two : Examine the criteria Arrangement, Format, special features & Costs Topic Three: Reviewing sources and its usefulness Topic Four: Guides to Reference Sources and its usefulness Slide 3
Reading List Kumar, Krishan (2006) Reference Service 5 th ed. Delhi: Vikas Publishing House pp. 132-133 Slide 4
Topic One CRITERIA FOR SELECTION & EVALUATION OF REFERENCES SOURCES Slide 5
Criterion-Authority Authority : Authorship: qualifications, experience, education. Extent to which authors responsible? Auspices: Reputation of publisher or sponsoring agency? Genealogy: work new? Based on a previous publication? Extent of revision? Applicability : Easier to evaluate authority of print sources If CD-ROM or online database has printed counterpart, authority can be easily judged. When no printed counterpart -judge authority from statements in documentation describing electronic Prof. P.S.sDaodziue,DrISce. Slide 6
Criterion-Scope SCOPE: Purpose: Purpose evident from title or form, contents; introduction or preface; index. Coverage: range of subject matter and limitations? Relate to and compare with other works of similar scope? If new edition extent of revision overlap and uniqueness information Currency : how up to date is material? For serial publication, how frequently updated? Applicability - Printed sources easy to examine, but for non print sources rely on documentation. Sample searches to be done. When same source exist in different formats, currency may vary. Prof. P.S.O Dad n zie, l D i IS ne sources are often more cu S r lid r e e 7 nt than
Criterion-Treatment Treatment : Accuracy: How thorough, reliable and complete are the facts? Objectivity: Any bias in controversial issues? How balanced is the space given on subject as compared with others of equal importance? Reviewing topics which one has personal knowledge Style: level of writing for layman or scholar, adult or child? How readable is the work? Easier to accomplish with printed sources than with electronic sources. Slide 8
Topic Two CRITERIA FOR SELECTION & EVALUATION OF REFERENCES SOURCES Slide 9
Criterion- Arrangement Arrangement Sequence: Content follow classified, chronologic, geographic, tabular or alphabetic order? Indexing: Main text arrangement adequately complemented by indexes and cross-references? Electronic sources different indexes. Allow reference librarian to answer questions that cannot be answered in a printed source. For example a printed bibliography -search by author, title, and subject. A publisher index not likely to be provided. In an online version, publisher could be a Prof. P.S.s Da e dzi a e, D r IS chable index Slide 10
Criterion- Format Format : Physical makeup: binding, paper, typeface and layout. meet minimum specifications? Illustrations: good quality; significant ; directly related to the text? Printed sources: straightforward to use, predictable in cost and usable by more than one user if a multivolume set. Problem: space, currency, limitations on search strategies. In electronic databases, arrangement per se is of noconcern. real importance. Searching is of major Slide 11
Criterion- Format 2 Format : CD-ROMs allow complex searching; store large amounts of information, images and sound, numerical data. Need to assess quality and reference value of such images and sound. Expensive, somewhat slow to search and variable in ease of use because interfaces not standard. may lack currency, require work space for equipment. Online databases and Web resources support flexibility and complexity in searching, contain large amounts of information. Slide 12
Criterion- Format 3 Format : Online databases Can be updated more frequently than CD-ROM. Limitations unpredictable costs, need for equipment, frequent need for special training to use available search systems effectively. Advantages and disadvantages must be weighed when evaluating a reference source in one or more formats. Slide 13
Criterion- Special Features Special features: Distinction :from other reference books of similar type; does it include supplementary lists or appendices? Are bibliographies up to date and useful? Devices for keeping reference material up to date? CD-ROM many possible variations in design because sold with software for searching the contents and displaying the information. Publishers improve products by enhancing usability. Any new developments that make database searching easier and more accessible to users will affect choice among products. Slide 14
Criterion- Special Features 2 Special features: Electronic sources, consider quality of available documentation, training and customer support. For Web resources, effective use of hyperlinks may add to a source s value. Slide 15
Criterion- Cost COST : cost of printed and non print sources eg. CD- ROM are similar - library has unlimited access to the contents of the source. Pricing of online databases is on a per-use basis. Differential pricing of E-resource if library holds print version. Cost determine if price appropriate in relation to need and anticipated frequency and length of use. Non print sources, costs include purchase and maintenance of the equipment. Staff support training Judge if source meets needs of the library and
Topic Three REVIEWING SOURCES Slide 17
Reviewing Sources These are also referred to as Selection Aids They evaluate and compare new reference sources to enable Information Professional make informed decisions. Vary in frequency Impossible to review all books before purchase, several reviewing sources useful. Cover wide range of sources Criticisms: Time lag. More thorough the review, the longer the time lag. Most reviews generally favorable, descriptive rather than evaluative Slide 18
Reviewing Sources 2 Useful in offering basis for assessing new reference works Supplements information from fliers and catalogs More coverage of printed reference books eg American Reference Books Annual (ARBA) Reference Books Bulletin in semi-monthly issues of Booklist. Website: www.ala.org/booklist/index.html Library journal includes section of brief signed reference book reviews www.libraryjournal.com Choice- www.choicereviews.org Slide 19
Topic Four GUIDES TO REFERENCES SOURCES Slide 20
Guides to Reference Sources These are document finding tools also known as bridges to information. Usefulness serve dual purposes: as collection evaluation checklists and selection tools for reference and collection development librarians; as aids in reference work to identify appropriate reference sources to use in answering reference questions. Example: Guide to Reference Books: (formerly Constance Winchell, Eugene Sheehy and most recently Robert Balay Slide 21
Guides to Reference Sources Balay s -bibliographic information and descriptions for approx. 14,000 English and foreign language reference works in all fields. Arrangement - 5 major parts: Part A: General Reference Works; Part B: Humanities; Part C: Social and Behavioral Sciences: Part D History and Area Studies; Part E Science, Technology and Medicine Slide 22
Guides to Reference Sources Walford s -Guide to Reference Books. Three volumes. Vol. 1 science and technology; Vol. 2 social and historial sciences, philosophy and religion; Vol. 3 generalia, language and literature and the arts. Directory of Online Databases : lists and briefly describes databases of all types in a wide range of Prof. subject P.S.Dadzie, DISareas covering over 4,000 databases Slide 23
Activity Visit any library and examine the following: Balay s Guide to Reference Books Walford s Guide to Reference Materials American Reference Books Annual (ARBA) Slide 24
Activity 2 STUDY QUESTION 1.What do you understand by evaluation of information sources? 2.Why is it especially important to evaluate information? Slide 25
References Kumar, Krishan (2006) Reference Service 5 th ed. Delhi: Vikas Publishing House pp. 132-133 Katz, A. William (2002) Introduction to Reference, Work Vols. I pp.26-32 Slide 26