Reference Book :: its characteristics and types

Book which are written so that this can read consecutively for inspiration, enjoyment or information is called ordinary or general book, than books which are design to be consulted or refereed to from time to time, for a specific piece of information, ordinarily these don’t lend themselves to continuous reading.

Broadly speaking any book can be called a reference book provide the information contained in it’s so organized so that it become readily accessible is called reference book.

Characteristics of Reference Books:

1. They are intended primarily for occasional consultation.
2. They are consulted for definite items of information.
3. The information included in them is collected from a vast number of sources.
4. It is a miscellany of information and facts.
5. The arrangement of information is such that it can be conveniently and quickly recalled.
6. It follows some methods of arrangement e.g. Alphabetical, Chronological or other methods.
7. They include only the bird-eye-view of the topics and rarely deal them in depth.
8. They usually concentrate on facts.
9. They are normally not issued on loan and kept for use in the library only.
10. Information in a reference book is so organized that anyone can easily get their desired information.

Types of Reference Books:
The followings are several types of reference books:

1. Language Dictionary.
2. Encyclopaedia.
3. Biographical Sources.
4. Directories.
5. Bibliographies.
6. Audio visual Materials.
7. Year-Books, Almanacs, and Supplements to encyclopaedia.
8. Geographical sources, Gazetteers, guide-books, maps, atlases etc.
9. Current sources: Handbooks, manuals and sources of statistics.