Dictionaries, Statistical Sources, Quotation Sources
When you need a better explanation of a term or must check on a spelling, consult a general dictionary or a subject dictionary. While the classic Oxford Dictionary of the English Language can be found in print or online formats, other dictionaries are appearing only on the Internet. Dictionaries and quotation sources can be located through the Virtual Reference sources at the end of this lesson.Governments are known for collecting and reporting statistics of all types, and many can be found in yearly compilations such as the Statistical Abstract of the United States, or the North Carolina Vital Statistics. Print copies of these can be located in most libraries.
Quotation books collect and organize quotations by category, speaker, subject, and/or keyword. Finding a good quotation on your topic can add a nice finishing touch to your project. The quotation below is as meaningful now as it was when it was written over 200 years ago.
"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it...."While the Internet is a good source of statistical information, you cannot always find the complete text on the Internet. However, some statistics are updated more regularly on the Internet than they can be in print. Your need for statistics may require searching in all formats as many agencies, both state and federal, are experimenting with delivery of statistical information on the Internet. You will need to experiment. A good place to begin is the comprehensive Librarians' Index to the Internet site. Look under the Reference Desk category and select Statistics.
Samuel Johnson, 1775
