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Solon Campus Library Resources

The Bryant & Stratton College Virtual Library supports the college mission and curricular needs through acquisition and dissemination of critical information to students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

What is Ready Reference?

Ready reference is the collection of information resources that can help people quickly obtain background information, statistics, definitions or facts. Ready reference sources are often used for

  1. choosing a topic

  2.  understanding terminology

  3. locating background information

  4. identifying good search terms, or

  5. identifying additional resources.

Content is often listed alphabetically or in some other arrangement, such as classified, numeric, etc. It can include print or electronic resources (free web resources or library online databases).

Ready Reference Categories

Acronyms & Abbreviations

An acronym is a word (as NATO, radar, or laser) formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term. An abbreviation is a shortened form of a written word or phrase used in place of the whole (i.e.amt is an abbreviation for amount).

Almanacs

An almanac is an annual publication containing astronomical and meteorological data, statistical, tabular, and miscellaneous information.

Bibliographies

Bibliographies are lists of books, magazines, articles, etc., about a particular subject, or mentioned within the text.

Biographies

Biographies are stories of real people’s lives written by someone other than that person. Biographies are also written on different subjects (i.e. animal, building).

General

Subject Specific

Currency, Calculators & Units of Measure

Currency is the money that a country uses specifically; or something that is used as money (i.e. United States uses bills, pennies, quarters, dimes, nickels). Calculators are electronic devices for performing mathematical calculations. Units of Measure are the standard unit or system of units by means of which a quantity is accounted for and expressed (i.e. a unit of time is a second).

Dictionaries, Thesauri & Translations

Dictionaries are reference books (or digital resource) that contains words listed in alphabetical order and that gives information about the words' meanings, forms, pronunciation. Thesauri are books (digital resource) containing words that have the same or similar meanings are grouped together (i.e. girl, woman, lady). Translations are the acts or processes of changing something from one form to another (i.e. translating words from one language to another).

General

Subject Specific

Directories & Phone Books

Directory is an alphabetical or classified list (as of names and addresses) or books or websites regarding the collection of directions, rules, or ordinances. Phone book is a listing of telephone subscribers in a geographical area or subscribers to services provided by the organization that publishes the directory.

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias are reference works (such as books, series of books, websites, or CD-ROMs) that contain information about many different subjects or a lot of information about a particular subject. Encyclopedia is a great source to look for a topic’s background information.

General

Subject Specific

Etymology

Etymologies are explanations of where a word came from or the history of a word.

Government Information

Government resources are published by the United States Government for all citizens. These resources are available in print or accessible on the web.  

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS REFERENCE

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION ON THE WEB

Handbooks & Manuals

Handbooks are concise reference books (or digital resources) covering particular subjects. Manuals are small books (or digital resources) that provide useful information about something (i.e. computers, treadmills etc).

Holidays, Dates & Clocks

Holidays are special days of celebration or days when most people do not have to work. Dates are the times at which events occur. Clocks are machines or electronic devices that measures and records time.

Maps, Gazetteers, Countries & States

Maps are geographic representations, drawn to scale and usually on a flat surface, of features; usually geographic, geologic, or geopolitical, of an area. Gazetteers are geographical dictionaries or books in which subjects are treated especially in regard to geographic distribution and regional specialization. Countries are areas of land that are controlled by their own governments. States are organized communities living under one government.

Quotations

Quotation is something a person says or writes that is repeated or used by someone else in another piece of writing or a speech.

Statistical Sources

Statistical sources provide information dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses of numerical data.

Zip & Postal Codes

Zip codes (postal codes) are a group of numbers that are used in the U.S. as part of an address to identify a mail delivery area (such as a town or a part of a city).

Library Database Ready Reference

Mission Statement

The Bryant & Stratton College Virtual Library supports the college mission and curricular needs through acquisition and dissemination of resources in all online media formats and as well as by meeting the critical information needs of its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. In support of the curriculum, the emphasis is on resource and information literacy instruction, digital and Internet access and instruction, and research and writing instruction. The library's purpose is to enable the students to attain the goals outlined in the College Mission Statement.
Links to websites that do not include Bryantstratton.edu in the address are suggested as information helpful for students and faculty. The websites are not affiliated with Bryant & Stratton College.