General Reference:
* Encyclopedias: Provide comprehensive information on a wide range of subjects, often with articles written by experts. (Examples: Britannica, World Book)
* Dictionaries: Define words and their origins, provide pronunciation and usage examples. (Examples: Merriam-Webster, Oxford English Dictionary)
* Thesauruses: Provide synonyms and antonyms for words. (Examples: Roget's Thesaurus)
* Atlases: Contain maps of the world, regions, and countries. (Examples: National Geographic Atlas, Rand McNally Atlas)
* Almanacs: Provide current facts and figures on a wide range of topics, including history, science, sports, and entertainment. (Examples: The Old Farmer's Almanac, The World Almanac)
* Yearbooks: Provide a summary of significant events and achievements from the previous year. (Examples: The New York Times Almanac, The World Book Yearbook)
Specialized Reference:
* Bibliographies: List books and other publications on specific subjects.
* Biographical Dictionaries: Provide information on the lives and accomplishments of individuals. (Examples: Who's Who, Dictionary of American Biography)
* Directories: List organizations, businesses, or individuals within a specific field. (Examples: Thomas Register, Yellow Pages)
* Handbooks: Provide detailed information on specific topics, such as science, engineering, or medicine.
* Style Guides: Provide rules for grammar, punctuation, and style. (Examples: The Chicago Manual of Style, The Associated Press Stylebook)
* Quotations Dictionaries: Compile famous sayings, proverbs, and literary quotations. (Examples: Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations)
Other Reference Materials:
* Indexes: Help you find articles and information in periodicals and other publications. (Examples: Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, Humanities Index)
* Abstracts: Provide summaries of scholarly articles and research papers. (Examples: Medline, PsycINFO)
* Databases: Online collections of information that can be searched for specific topics. (Examples: JSTOR, EBSCOhost)
Remember: Libraries may also have special collections of reference materials related to their local history, culture, or other areas of expertise.
If you need help finding specific reference materials, be sure to ask a librarian! They are trained to help you navigate the library's resources and find the information you need.