Editing Reference work

{{Short description|Publication to which one can refer for confirmed facts}}
{{About|a kind of publication|the work that librarians perform at a library reference desk|Reference desk}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}

[[File:2010-09 CPOV IMG 6251.JPG|thumb|The {{Lang|de|[[Brockhaus Enzyklopädie]]}}, the best-known traditional reference book in German-speaking countries]]
[[File:LexikondesMittelalters.JPG|thumb|The {{Lang|de|[[Lexikon des Mittelalters]]}}, a specialised German encyclopedia]]
[[File:Encyclopaedia Britannica 15 with 2002.jpg|thumb|''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 15th edition: volumes of the Propedia (green), Micropedia (red), Macropedia (black), and 2-volume Index (blue)]]

A '''reference work''' is a document, such as a [[Academic publishing#Scholarly paper|paper]], [[book]] or [[periodical literature|periodical]] (or their [[electronic publishing|electronic equivalents]]), to which one can refer for [[information]].<ref>{{Cite dictionary |title=reference |encyclopedia=[[Merriam-Webster]] |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reference |access-date=January 22, 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829155411/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reference |archive-date=August 29, 2024}}</ref> The information is intended to be found quickly when needed. Such works are usually ''referred'' to for particular pieces of information, rather than read beginning to end. The writing style used in these works is informative; the authors avoid opinions and the use of the first person, and emphasize facts.

[[Index (publishing)|Indices]] are a common navigation feature in many types of reference works. Many reference works are put together by a team of contributors whose work is coordinated by one or more editors, rather than by an individual author. Updated [[edition (book)|edition]]s are usually published as needed, in some cases [[annual publication|annually]], such as ''[[Whitaker's Almanack]]'', and ''[[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]]''.

Reference works include [[textbook]]s, [[almanac]]s, [[atlas]]es, [[bibliography|bibliographies]], [[biographical dictionary|biographical sources]], [[cataloging|catalogs]] such as [[library catalog]]s and art catalogs, [[concordance (publishing)|concordances]], [[dictionary|dictionaries]], directories such as [[business directory|business directories]] and [[telephone directory|telephone directories]], [[discography|discographies]], [[Encyclopedia|encyclopedias]], [[filmography|filmographies]], [[gazetteer|gazetteers]], [[glossary|glossaries]], [[handbook]]s, indices such as [[bibliographic index|bibliographic indices]] and [[citation index|citation indices]], [[user guide|manuals]], [[pathfinder (library science)|research guides]], [[thesaurus]]es, and [[yearbook]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reitz |first=Joan |url=https://odlis.abc-clio.com/odlis_r.html |title=Dictionary for Library and Information Science |date=2004 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury Academic]] |isbn=9781591580751 |chapter=Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207060303/https://odlis.abc-clio.com/odlis_r.html#refbook |archive-date=December 7, 2024 |url-status=live |via=ABC-CLIO}}</ref> Reference works, while traditionally printed, are often available in electronic form and can be obtained as [[reference software]], [[CD-ROM]]s, [[DVD]]s, or online through the [[Internet]]. [[Wikipedia]], an [[online encyclopedia]], is both the largest and the most-read reference work in history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/international/2021/01/09/wikipedia-is-20-and-its-reputation-has-never-been-higher |title=Wikipedia is 20, and its reputation has never been higher |date=9 January 2021 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=May 31, 2021 |archive-date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231224550/https://www.economist.com/international/2021/01/09/wikipedia-is-20-and-its-reputation-has-never-been-higher |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Library reference book==
In most [[Public library|public]] and [[Academic library|academic libraries]], reference books are usually not available to be borrowed by patrons like the rest of the library's holdings. Reference books are either used very frequently—a dictionary or an atlas, for example—or very infrequently, such as a highly specialized [[Concordance (publishing)|concordance]]. Because some reference books are consulted by patrons too frequently to have enough copies and others so infrequently that replacing it would be difficult, libraries prefer to make them available for photocopy rather than checkout.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why are some books non-circulating or in-library use? |url=https://ask.library.harvard.edu/faq/82471 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707101140/https://ask.library.harvard.edu/faq/82471 |archive-date=July 7, 2024 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |website=[[Harvard Library]]}}</ref>

==Types of reference work==
The main types and categories of reference works include:

* [[Abstract (summary)|Abstracting journal]] – a published summary of articles, theses, reviews, conference proceedings etc. arranged systematically
* [[Almanac]] – an annual publication, listing a set of current, general or specific information about one or multiple subjects
* [[Annals]] – concise historical record in which events are arranged chronologically
* [[Atlas]] – a collection of maps traditionally been bound into book form
* [[Bibliographies|Bibliography]] – a systematic list of books and other works such as journal articles on a given subject or which satisfy particular criteria
* [[Biographical dictionary]] – an encyclopedic dictionary limited to biographical information
* Books of Quotations – collections of [[quotation]]s satisfying particular criteria, arranged systematically
* [[Chronicle]]/[[Chronology]] – a historical account of events arranged in chronological order
* [[Compendium]] – a concise collection of information pertaining to a body of knowledge 
* [[Concordance (publishing)|Concordance]] – an alphabetical list of the principal words used in a book or body of work
* [[Dictionary]] – a list of words from one or more languages, systematically arranged and giving meanings, etymologies etc.
* [[wikt:digest#Noun|Digest]] – a summary of information on a particular subject
* [[wikt:directory#Noun|Directory]] – a systematically arranged list of names, addresses, products, etc.
** [[Business directory]]
** [[Telephone directory]]
** [[Web directory]]
* [[Encyclopaedia]] – a compendium providing summaries of knowledge either from all branches or from a particular field or discipline
* [[Gazetteer]] – a geographical dictionary or directory used to provide systematic access to a map or atlas
* [[Glossary]] – an alphabetical list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with the definitions for those terms
* [[Handbook]] – a small or portable book intended to provide ready reference
* [[Index (publishing)|Index]] – a publication giving systematic access to a body of knowledge
* [[Lexicon]] – a synonym for a dictionary or encyclopaedic dictionary
* [[wikt:list#Noun|List]] – a published enumeration of a set of items 
* [[wikt:manual#Noun|Manual]] – a handbook providing instructions in the use of a particular product
* [[Phrase book]] – a collection of ready-made phrases, arranged systematically, usually for a foreign language together with a translation
* [[Ready reckoner]] – a printed book or table containing pre-calculated values
* [[Catalogues of classical compositions#Thematic catalogue|Thematic catalogue]] – an index used to identify musical compositions through the citation of the opening notes
* [[Textbook]] – a reference work containing information about a subject
* [[Thesaurus]] – a reference work for finding synonyms and sometimes antonyms of words
* [[Timetable]] – a published list of schedules giving times for transportation or other events
* [[Yearbook]] – a compendium containing events relating to a specific year

==Electronic resources==
An electronic resource is a [[computer program]] or [[data]] that is stored electronically, which is usually found on a computer, including information that is available on the Internet.<ref name="eresource">{{Cite book |last=Reitz |first=Joan |url=https://odlis.abc-clio.com/odlis_e.html |title=Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science |date=2004 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury Academic]] |isbn=9781563089626 |chapter=Electronic Resource |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207050526/https://odlis.abc-clio.com/odlis_e.html |archive-date=7 December 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Libraries offer numerous types of electronic resources including [[e-text|electronic texts]] such as [[e-book|electronic books]] and [[electronic journal]]s, [[bibliographic database]]s, [[institutional repository|institutional repositories]], [[website]]s, and [[application software|software applications]].<ref name=eresource />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
=== General ===
*{{cite book |editor-last=Higgens |editor-first=Gavin |title=Printed Reference Material |series=Handbooks on Library Practice |publisher=Library Association |location=London |year=1984 |edition=2nd revised |isbn=978-0853659952}}
*{{cite book |last=Katz |first=William A. |author-link=William Katz (librarian) |title=Introduction to Reference Work, Volume 1: Basic Information Services |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=2001 |edition=8th |isbn=978-0072441079}}
*{{cite book |last=Katz |first=William A. |title=Introduction to Reference Work, Volume 2: Reference Services and Reference Processes |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=2001 |edition=8th |isbn=978-0072441437 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/introductiontore00will_0 }}
*{{cite book |last=Lynch |first=Jack |title=You Could Look It Up: The Reference Shelf From Ancient Babylon to Wikipedia |publisher=Bloomsbury Press|location=New York |year=2016 |isbn=978-0802777522}}

=== Guides to reference works ===
*{{cite book |editor-last=Chenoweth |editor-first=Juneal M. |title=American Reference Books Annual |date=24 June 2019 |publisher=Libraries Unlimited |location=Santa Barbara, California |isbn=978-1-4408-6913-6}}  Published annually beginning in 1970.
*{{cite book |last=Heeks |first=Peggy |title=Books of Reference for School Libraries: An Annotated List |publisher=Library Association |location=London |asin=B0006C36OO |year=1968 |edition=2nd}}
*{{cite book |editor-last=Lester |editor-first=Ray |title=New Walford Guide to Reference Resources, Volume 1: Science, Technology, and Medicine |publisher=Neal-Schuman Publishers |location=New York |year=2005 |isbn=978-1856044950 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newwalfordguidet0001unse }}
*{{cite book |editor-last1=Lester |editor-first1=Ray |editor-last2=Clinch |editor-first2=Peter |editor-last3=Dawson |editor-first3=Heather |editor-last4=Edwards |editor-first4=Helen |editor-last5=Tarrant |editor-first5=Susan |title=New Walford Guide to Reference Resources, Volume 2: Social Sciences |publisher=Facet Publishing |location=London |year=2007 |isbn=978-1856044981 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newwalfordguidet0001unse }}
*{{cite book |editor-last=Lester |editor-first=Ray |title=New Walford Guide to Reference Resources, Volume 3: Arts, Humanities, and General Reference |publisher=Facet Publishing |location=London |year = 2015 |isbn= 978-1856044998}}
*{{cite book |last=Malclès |first=Louise Noëlle |author-link=Louise Noëlle Malclès |title=Les sources du travail bibliographique |language=French |publisher=Librairie Droz |location=Geneva  |year=1950}}
*{{cite book |last=Sheehy |first=Eugene P. |author-link=Eugene P. Sheehy |title=[[Guide to Reference|Guide to Reference Books]] |publisher=American Library Association |location=Chicago |isbn=978-0838902059 |year=1976 |edition=9th}} Originally compiled by [[Alice B. Kroeger]] for first two editions beginning in 1902. Subsequently, edited by [[Isadore Gilbert Mudge]] (3rd through 6th editions) and [[Constance Mabel Winchell]] (7th and 8th editions).
*{{cite book |last1=Totok |first1=Wilhelm |last2=Weitzel | first2=Rolf|title=Handbuch der bibliographischen Nachschlagewerke |publisher=Klostermann |location=Frankfurt am Main |year=1984–1985 |edition=6th |language=German}} First published in 1954.
*{{cite book |editor-last=Walford |editor-first=A. J. |title=Walford's Guide to Reference Material, Volume 1: Science and Technology |publisher=Library Association |location=London |year=1980 |isbn=9780853656111 |edition=4th |author-link=John Walford (librarian) |url=https://archive.org/details/walfordsguidetor01libr |url-access=registration}}
*{{cite book |editor-last1=Walford |editor-first1=A. J. |editor-last2=Taylor |editor-first2=L. J. |title=Walford's Guide to Reference Material, Volume 2: Generalia, Language and Literature, The Arts |publisher=Library Association |location=London |year=1987 |edition=4th |url=https://archive.org/details/walfordsguidetor00ajwa |url-access=registration}}
*{{cite book|editor=Walford, A. J.|title= Walford's Concise Guide to Reference Material|location= London |publisher= Library Association |date= 1981}} (an abridgement of Walford's Guide)

==External links==
* {{Commonscatinline|Reference works}}

{{Lexicography}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Reference works| ]]