Reference Material
Although the traditional definition of reference material
appears to constitute resources available in the library that can be referred to
but not borrowed, I have always considered this term to apply more broadly to
any source of factual information that can be drawn upon for a specific purpose.
This is consistent with the definition provided by the University of Ireland
Maynooth (2010). However, this definition becomes blurred particularly in a
school context, as students rightly question the distinction between factual and
non-factual information. This issue, with the widespread use of the web to
acquire information, means that the term ‘reference material’ is perhaps more
suitable for general application to non-borrowable resources in the library
after all. A reference material section in the library is still useful even if
only to house resources that are not suitable for loan due to their format,
limited number of copies, rarity or another reason.
Wikipedia
Students should be encouraged to use Wikipedia critically, as with
other sources of information. They must be made aware that the information
provided may not be produced by authoritative or qualified writers. Students
need to learn how to assess and balance the reliability and accuracy of the
information provided through reference to a range of other sources on a given
topic.
Dictionaries
A search for online dictionaries returns a variety
of examples. These dictionaries are appealing because they yield word
definitions quickly. However, many schools still need to provide access to
print-based dictionaries for use in classrooms, as there are usually
insufficient computer terminals to provide individual students with access to
online dictionaries.
Other Reference Material
For maps and directions
in Australia, ‘WhereIs’ (http://www.whereis.com/) is useful. Students can insert entities
as required.
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