Name:______
Beach Park
Library
Objective:
In this lesson, you will learn how to use a library and to access information using a table of contents, glossary, and index.
Using a Library to Access Information
You are probably familiar with either your school library or your local public library. However, suppose you move to another town and find your new library to be bigger and more intimidating.
The essential thing you need to know about using a library is that, even though all libraries may not be created equal, they are created along the same format. Think of the library as a huge filing cabinet. The shelves are labeled folders, and the books are the items that have been arranged in the folders according to category and then in alphabetic order.
If you know the alphabet, you should never get lost trying to find information in the library.
What does the library contain?
Information in the library takes many forms. The resources you use depend on the type of information you need. Here are things you will find in the library:
Books on the shelves will include fiction, nonfiction, and reference. The nonfiction section contains factual information about real people, events, and things. This section includes biographies and "how-to" books. The reference section will contain books of general information about many subjects.
Magazines and newspapers are usually placed in the reading section of the library. They include current events, commentaries, and important discoveries.
A major section of the library will be given to audiotapes, records, films, filmstrips, slides, and videotapes.
A more recent addition to the library is the computer. Here you can find information that is stored electronically. This allows for easy access and frequent updates. Many libraries allow access to the Internet.
How is the information in the library arranged?
You can usually find a number and letter code on the spine of every book in the library. This code is a call number. The callnumber identifies the book and tells where to find it on the shelves of the library.
Most libraries arrange nonfiction books according to the DeweyDecimalSystem. This system assigns a number to each book according to that book's subject. By using this system of arrangement, books that contain factual information about similar subjects are placed near each other on the library shelves.
When a library assigns a Dewey Decimal number to a book, the first step is to place the book in one of ten subject categories. Below are the major subject categories, along with the numbers assigned to each area.
Numbers 000-099 are assigned to general works. This area includes encyclopedias and reference books. Some libraries use an R with the call number for reference books.
Numbers 100-199 are assigned to books of philosophy. In this section are ideas about life, theories, and personality. You might find a book about Aristotle in this section.
Most libraries put biographies in a separate section. The call number of a biography usually begins with 92 or the letter B. Biographies are arranged in alphabetical order according to the last name of the person the book is about. For example, if you were looking for a biography on Abraham
Lincoln you would search under the letter L.
Fiction Books
Fiction books are not arranged by subject like nonfiction books.
However, fiction books are arranged alphabetically according to the last name of the author. For example, a novel by Tom Clancy would be arranged alphabetically before a novel by Stuart Woods. Names of authors that begin with Mc and St. are alphabetized as if they were spelled out: Mac and Saint.
If an author has published more than one book, they are are grouped together under the author's last name. These books are then arranged alphabetically by title. (First words such as a, an, or the are not included.) Collections of short stories are usually kept separate from other works of fiction. Short story collections are sometimes marked with the letters SC.
Children's books are usually placed in a separate section. Books for young adults are usually placed in a section called Young Adult or Youth and are arranged alphabetically by the author's last name.
How to Find a Book
To begin a search at a library for a certain book, go to the cardcatalog. This is a cabinet of small drawers that contain many small file cards. There are cards in this file for every book in the library.
Cards in the card catalog are arranged in alphabetical order by title, author, or subject. Each fiction book has at least two cards, a title card and an author card. A nonfiction book will have a third card, a subject card.
An on-line catalog is like a card catalog except the information is stored on a computer. The on-line catalog is replacing the older card catalogs.
Finding Information in a Book
The Table of Contents
Let's take a look at a book's table of contents. If you want a good overview of the subjects covered in the book, or if you need to know if the information you need is in the book, look at the table of contents. The contents page may list only chapter headings, or it may list the main topics as units or parts and the subtopics as chapters. Let's take a look at the table of contents for a book called IndianArtifacts.
If you are looking for information about a particular artifact, a look at the table of contents will tell you if this book has the information you want.
Name:______
Beach Park
Library
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Chipped Stone Artifacts 5
1. Projectile Points 12
2. Flint Knives 23
3. Choppers 37
4. Axes 50
II. Polished Stone Artifacts 65
1. Hammers 70
2. Stone Celts 78
3. Manos and Mullers 87
4. Sone Pipes 98
III. Bone Artifacts 112
1. Flint Knapping Tools 118
2. Squash Knives 120
3. Bone Awls 125
4. Bone Beads 140
IV. Shell Artifacts 150
1. Shell Hoes 156
2. Shell Beads 161
3. Shell Ornaments 169
4. Shell Utensils 174
V. Clay Artifacts 180
1. Baked Clay Daub 185
2. Pottery Sherds 191
3. Clay Figurines 197
4. Clay Pipes 201
VI. Metal Artifacts 210
1. Metal Points 219
2. European Trade Items 224
Appendix 226
Bibliography 228
Glossary 232
Index 234
Name:______
Beach Park
Library
Glossary
If you come across words that you don't understand while you are reading, refer to the book's glossary. This is a listing of special words that are included in the book. The table of contents gives the page number for the glossary. Turn there to find the exact meaning of the word.
Words are listed in the glossary in alphabetical order just as they are listed in the dictionary.
The Index
You are searching for information on collecting arrowheads and find some information in this book. However, you want to search further. Check the index of the book. The index is at the very back of the book and is an alphabetical list of specific topics contained in the book. Here is part of the index for Indian Artifacts. You will notice that main topics are followed by subtopics. After each entry are the numbers of the pages that contain information related to the topic.
Name:______
Beach Park
Library
THE INDEX
Arrowheads
Collections 12
Museum Collections 60
Projectile Points 5
Sites 62
Bone Artifacts 112
Bone awls 125
Bone Beads 132
Clay Artifacts 180
Clay Figurines 197
Clay Pipes 201
Elbow Shaped 202
Red River Pipes 203
Pottery 190
Location of Finds 195
Shell Artifacts 150
Shell Beads 161
Shell Ornaments 169
Shell Utensils 174
Working Tools
Bone Fish Hooks 138
Deer Jaw Sickles 136
Flint Knapping Tools 118
Manos and Mullers 87
Pecking Hammers 70
Shell Hoes 156
Name:______
Beach Park
Library
Always refer to the index if you need particular facts. This saves time and trouble of searching and thumbing through the pages of an entire book.
Assignment
In a paragraph, explain in your own words why it is important to know how to use the table of contents and the index of a book. Write your paragraph(s) in the space provided.
Begin writing here: