Unit 8 handbooks, manuals, year books, etc. Structure

 
have been allotted ISBN 
number as on 31st March 1993. 
Self Check Exercise 
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What are the different types of directories? 
Why are they called ready reference sources? 
What information can be searched from institutional Directories? 
Note: 
i) Write your answers in the space given below. 
ii) Check your answers with the answers given at the end of this Unit. 
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8.2.4 Handbooks, 
Manuals, 
Guide-books 
We have a very large group of ready reference sources consisting of handbooks, 
manuals, sourcebooks and guide books. It is difficult to distinguish them from one 
another as they have common scope and identical purpose. These terms are used 
synonymously as they have similar features. They are also known as compendia as 
they contain concise and comprehensive account of given fields of knowledge. 

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Handbooks, Manuals, 
The word `handbook' is borrowed from German word ‘handbuch’ meaning ' a small 
book or a treatise giving useful facts.' The literal meaning of the term `handbook' is 
the book which is 'handy' to use as it contains all sorts of facts and `handy' to carry it 
conveniently in hand. A `manual' is a corresponding word derived from Latin term 
`manuals'. It means a guide book, a compendious book, an abridged handbook or a 
concise treatise which can be referred for guidance in any occupation, art or study. 
They are essential ready reference sources consisting of `facts to know' and 
`instructions to do'. They are sometime known as 'instruction books'. 
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YearBooks, etc. 
They are usually single volume reference tools. All the handbooks may not be 
providing facts of popular interest. There are countless subject handbooks consisting 
of articles based on re-search reports. In order to understand them it is essential to 
have basic knowledge of the subject. The information 
is 
provided in 'compact and 
concise form but illustrated by various diagrams, graphs, data, equations, formula, 
principles, symbols, tables, procedures. They have limited scope because they deal 
with the minute details of the specialised subjects meant for a small group of 
specialists. In fact, they are valuable for their depth of information in a narrow 
subject field. 
There is a rapid increase in publishing of handbooks and manuals. There are 
countless hand-books on specific subjects. With the growth of knowledge, they 
become out of date and revised editions have to be published. They are reliable and 
indispensable reference tools for libraries. They can be grouped into following 
categories :