Pulling it all Together
Choose the best source
This chart may help you decide which type of tool to choose for your information need.
If you Need... |
Try this type of source... |
|---|---|
| up-to-the-minute news | World Wide Web, broadcast media |
| current daily information | newspapers, web-based news, broadcast media |
| local information | newspapers, web-based news, broadcast media |
| in-depth, thorough treatments of a topic or subject | Books |
| background information |
Subject encyclopedias |
| statistics and data | Statistics reference books, online statistical sources |
| research on a focused topic | scholarly journals |
| historical information | books |
| popular events | magazines, broadcast media |
| primary research | scholarly journals |
| editorials and expert | newspapers |
| current data from government agencies | World Wide Web |
| reliable, broad overview of topics | subject encyclopedias |
Bonus:
Handout: Timeline of Information