Sources of information that are directive in nature are usually found in the Reference Collection. Located on the first floor of the library, the Reference Collection contains over 2800 volumes. Call number information for these titles can be found via Voyager. The types of books found in the Reference Collection include:

Almanacs, Handbooks, and Yearbooks: Provide miscellaneous information, facts, statistics, lists, charts, and dates.

Atlases and Gazetteers: Contain geographical data.

Biographies: Give information about people's lives.

Bibliographies: List sources of information, both general (many topics) and special (one topic).

Dictionaries: Provide information about words: meanings, derivations, usage, spelling.

Directories: List addresses or names of organizations or persons.

Words...............................................may be answered by dictionaries.

General information........................may be answered by encyclopedias.

People.............................may be answered by biographical dictionaries.

Organizations.......................................may be answered by directories.

Places.................................may be answered by atlases and gazetteers.

How-to-do-it.....................may be answered by handbooks or manuals.

Periodicals articles....................may be answered by periodical indexes.

Books.............................................may be answered by bibliographies.

Facts................................may be answered by handbooks or almanacs.

The Library of Congress Classification System will also help you find information in the Reference Collection. For example, the call number, E170, will help you locate reference books on American History.

If you feel that HCC's reference sources would be helpful to you, please ask for help at the Reference Desk. The reference librarian will direct you to the proper sources. In addition, the library produces resource guides on several types of sources. These guides are located near the Circulation Desk.