LIS521 Janes

Resource Set 7

Sources About Facts

Factbooks, Almanacs, Handbooks, Yearbooks, Manuals, Directories, Vade Mecums

Explore the following sources (and similar ones), paying special attention to their intents, potential uses, how they are structured and searched.

• almanacs of various descriptions: World, Whitaker’s, Information Please on Web, New York Times, Canadian, Old Farmer’s on Web, (also specialized by subject: People, Catholic, ESPN, etc.)
• Statistical Abstract of the United States now published by ProQuest; also see the spiffy UW Library subject guide for data
• Guinness Book of Records on Web
• CIA World Factbook
• Famous First Facts
• Chase’s Calendar of Events on Web
• Physician’s Desk Reference on Web
• Internet Movie Database
• American Library Directory
• Encyclopedia of Associations
• Idealist
• POTUS: Presidents of the United States [IPL]
• phone books (in print, on microform, on Web [SPL] on Web [KCLS])
• city directories
• zip code directories (in print, on Web)
• census: American FactFinder, United States Historical Census Data Browser
• Statistical Resources on the Web ??
• WolframAlpha
• Kelley Blue Book
• Places Rated Almanac
• Gale Directory of Databases

Then, read these:

Psychiatry Manual Drafters Back Down on Diagnoses NYT 5/9/12

New Estimate Raises Civil War Death Toll NYT 4/3/12

Capturing America, Fact by Fact NYT 5/8/12

And prepare to discuss these questions:

v How might you go about finding a “factually” based source that isn’t on this list? What is the most efficient way of “categorizing” factual sources—based on which one would be of most use in finding out about which particular kind of thing?

v Why does this broad category of resources seem so diffuse, when compared to the others we’ve seen?

v Why are there so few (if any) good Web-based almanacs (cf. directories, etc.)?