{{Short description|Publication to which one can refer for confirmed facts}} {{About|a kind of publication|the work that librarians perform at a library usually at a 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 paper, book, encyclopedia or periodical (or their electronic equivalents, usually available online), 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 being read in its entirety. The writing style used in these works is informative, with the authors avoiding opinions and the use of the first-person perspective, and emphasizing facts.{{CitationNeeded|date=January 2026}}
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 editions are usually published as needed, in some cases annually, such as ''Whitaker's Almanack'', and ''Who's Who''.
Reference works include textbooks, almanacs, atlases, bibliographies, biographical sources, catalogs such as library catalogs and art catalogs, concordances, dictionaries, directories such as business directories and telephone directories, discographies, encyclopedias, filmographies, gazetteers, glossaries, handbooks, indices such as bibliographic indices and citation indices, manuals, research guides, thesauruses, and yearbooks.<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 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> While traditionally printed, reference works are often available in electronic formats, including reference software, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and online access via 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 many public and academic libraries, reference books are not available for borrowing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can I borrow a book marked 'Reference', such as a Dictionary? - LibAnswers |url=https://libanswers.essex.ac.uk/faq/273729 |access-date=2026-01-26 |website=libanswers.essex.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Can I borrow reference books? - LibAnswers |url=https://libanswers.shadygrove.umd.edu/faq/143059 |access-date=2026-01-26 |website=libanswers.shadygrove.umd.edu}}</ref> Reference books may be consulted frequently, such as dictionaries or atlases, or very rarely, like a highly specialized concordance. Because some reference books are in constant demand while others are used so infrequently that replacement would be difficult, they may be kept on-site and made available for photocopying or digital scanning instead of 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 works == The main types and categories of reference works include:
* 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 * 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 quotations satisfying particular criteria, arranged systematically * Calendar – a record or a schematic set-up of the days and dates in the months of a specific year * Chronicle/Chronology – a historical account of events arranged in chronological order * Compendium – a concise collection of information pertaining to a body of knowledge * 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. * Digest – a summary of information on a particular subject * Directory – a systematically arranged list of names, addresses, products, etc. ** Business directory ** Telephone directory ** Web directory * Encyclopaedia/Encyclopedia – 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 – a publication giving systematic access to a body of knowledge * Lexicon – a synonym for a dictionary or encyclopaedic dictionary * List – a published enumeration of a set of items * 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 * 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
=== Almanac === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Almanac | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Annals === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Annals | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Atlas === {{Transclude lead excerpt| Atlas | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Bibliography === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Bibliographies | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Biographical dictionary === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Biographical dictionary | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Calendar === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Calendar | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Chronicle === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Chronicle | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Compendium === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Compendium | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Concordance === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Concordance (publishing)|Concordance | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Dictionary === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Dictionary | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Directories === ==== Business directory ==== {{Transclude lead excerpt | Business directory | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }}
==== Telephone directory ==== {{Transclude lead excerpt | Telephone directory | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }}
==== Web directory ==== {{Transclude lead excerpt | Web directory | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }}
=== Encyclopedia === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Encyclopedia | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Gazetteer === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Gazetteer | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Glossary === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Glossary | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Handbook === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Handbook | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Index === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Index (publishing)|Index | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }}
=== Lexicon === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Lexicon | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === List === {{Transclude lead excerpt | List | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Phrase book === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Phrase book | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Ready reckoner === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Ready reckoner | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Textbook === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Textbook | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Thesaurus === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Thesaurus | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Timetable === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Timetable | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === User guide === {{Transclude lead excerpt | User guide | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }} === Yearbook === {{Transclude lead excerpt | Yearbook | paragraphs=1,2 | nobold=1 | more=no }}
=== Other ===
* Books of quotations * Catalogues of classical compositions
==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 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 electronic texts such as electronic books and electronic journals, bibliographic databases, institutional repositories, websites, and 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 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}}
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Category:Reference works