Introduction to common reference books 1. Dictionary: It is a language reference book that collects words and phrases in various languages, gives spelling, pronunciation, meaning explanation and other information respectively, and organizes them in alphabetical order to facilitate readers to find specific word information at any time. This kind of reference books include language dictionaries, biographical dictionaries, place names dictionaries, knowledge dictionaries and so on. If you have the following questions, such as source, derivation, usage, synonyms and antonyms, dialects, slang, abbreviations, phrases and uncommon words, please look for such reference books directly. Commonly used word dictionaries are: Ci Hai; Concise Oxford Dictionary of Contemporary English = Concise Oxford Dictionary of English; Oxford English etymology dictionary = Oxford English etymology dictionary Webster's new synonym dictionary = Webster's new synonym dictionary; McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Technical Terms = McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Technical Terms; Longman Dictionary of Scientific Usage = Longman Dictionary of Scientific Idioms; New English-Chinese Dictionary of Sci-tech Abbreviations; New English-Chinese Dictionary of Sci-tech Abbreviations: Chinese Dictionary; A comparative dictionary of synonyms and antonyms; World dictionary of scientific names; Japanese-Chinese translation dictionary of world place names; English-Chinese scientific dictionary and many professional dictionaries.

Dictionaries fall into two categories. One is a general dictionary, which contains a certain range of Chinese characters according to the needs of readers, and can intuitively show the meaning and usage of Chinese characters. For example, small and medium-sized Xinhua Dictionary and Dictionary of Common Words in Ancient Chinese, and large ones such as Chinese Dictionary; The other is a special dictionary, which refers to Chinese characters with certain characteristics in a certain aspect, such as variant characters, interchangeable characters, variant characters and so on. Generally, it focuses on explaining some characteristics of Chinese characters, such as source dictionaries and dictionaries of commonly used Chinese characters.

Dictionaries can be divided into different types from different angles. The special solutions here are divided into Chinese dictionaries, specialized dictionaries and comprehensive dictionaries according to the nature of the included words and the emphasis of the interpretation content. Chinese dictionaries, such as Modern Chinese Dictionary and Grand Chinese Dictionary, professional dictionaries, such as People's Republic of China (PRC) Place Names Dictionary and China Encyclopedia Dictionary, and comprehensive dictionaries, such as Cihai. 2. Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia is an important knowledge-intensive reference book, which summarizes and organizes the accumulated knowledge in the world and is the summary of encyclopedic knowledge. This is an ideal reference book. To check the following questions, we will use encyclopedias, such as: concepts, definitions, background materials, biographical materials, place names, organizations, normative materials, image materials, events, activities, anecdotes and other general factual consultation questions. Commonly used encyclopedias are: Encyclopedia of China; Encyclopedia of New Britain = Encyclopedia of New Britain (Chinese and English version); Encyclopedia americana = encyclopedia americana (Chinese and English version); Encyclopedia of Bruckhaus; Encyclopedia of computer science and technology; McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology; Encyclopedia of mathematics; Encyclopedia of chemical engineering; Encyclopedia of biographies of scientists, etc.

Encyclopedia has the following characteristics: first, it is a summary, a collection of knowledge, and the language is accurate and concise; Second, completeness covers almost all aspects of knowledge; Third, authority is an authoritative reference book that has been investigated and cited for a long time, and has the nature of "knowledge standard".

Encyclopedias can be divided into the following three categories: first, comprehensive encyclopedias, such as China General Knowledge Encyclopedia and China Encyclopedia; Second, professional encyclopedias, such as Social Harmony Encyclopedia and China Literature Encyclopedia; Third, regional encyclopedias, such as Tibet Encyclopedia and Beijing Encyclopedia. 4. Handbook: a reference book that provides basic knowledge and practical information in professional fields in a concise manner. It is convenient to view professional knowledge and specific practical materials. The content is mostly expressed by narrative, list or chart, which collects relevant facts, data, formulas, symbols, terms, operating procedures and other specific information for a professional discipline or special department. Handwork can be divided into comprehensive and specialized. Commonly used manuals are: CRC Chemical Physics Manual = Chemical Physics Manual; Handbook of Organic Chemistry in Berstein = Handbook of Organic Chemistry in Berstein; Handbook of inorganic chemistry; NMR Spectrum Parameter Manual = NMR Spectrum Data Manual; Langer's Handbook of Chemistry = Langer's Handbook of Chemistry; Handbook of thermodynamic data of inorganic materials; Handbook of physical chemistry; United nations handbook; Handbook of foreign scientific and technological core journals; Manual of mechanical engineering; Handbook of rubber industry; Handbook of solvents; Electronic equipment data manual, etc.

Manual, yearbook and encyclopedia have similarities and differences. How can we tell the difference? Handbook and yearbook are in the same place: they contain rich facts, data and other practical materials; The difference between the two is that the manual provides mature established knowledge and recognized facts and data. Does not involve new knowledge and new materials in the current development process; Yearbooks provide knowledge and dynamic information in the process of development. Therefore, the manual is used to find retrospective practical information; Yearbook This is the main source of new information and data at present. Manual is similar to a special encyclopedia: both provide comprehensive and mature knowledge and materials for a certain professional field; Difference: the manual focuses on collecting practical materials such as special facts and data, and generally does not pay attention to in-depth discussion; Professional encyclopedias emphasize the systematic and comprehensive exposition of professional subject knowledge, but do not pay attention to providing practical materials. It is mainly a reference book about the basic knowledge and background materials of a subject. Compared with encyclopedias, yearbooks are similar in that they all contain encyclopedic knowledge and background materials; The difference is that yearbooks provide dynamic and up-to-date information in time, while encyclopedias focus on systematically providing established retrospective information. 5. Standards: uniform provisions on repetitive things and concepts. It is based on the comprehensive achievements of science, technology and practical experience, approved by the competent department through consultation, and published in a specific form as a criterion and basis for compliance.

According to the content of standards, it is divided into: basic standards, product standards, method standards, safety and environmental protection standards; According to the effective scope of standard implementation, it can be divided into international standards, international regional standards, national standards, industry standards, local standards and enterprise standards. In order to facilitate the management, retrieval and use of standards, standards in all countries have a standard number, and the structure of the standard number is similar.

Standards of Chinese and foreign languages in key collections of our library and their inspection methods;

A "ASTM standard: ASTM" (American Institute of Materials and Testing Standards), standard number: standard code ASTM+ letter type number+serial number+year of formulation (+year of re-approval), for example: ASTM A509-68 (1980), and other common letter marks are: T- (tentative) standard. Such as ASTM A6 15m-8 1b and ASTM A236—69aT. There are two retrieval methods: retrieval by standard serial number and retrieval by subject word. When searching, you can first use the serial number of volume 00.0 1 as the general index, or you can search according to the subject index and serial number attached to each professional volume. But the searcher must be able to judge which volume the standard belongs to.

B Standard documents of the Federal German Association for Science and Technology (see the special collection in the reference room of the library homepage for details): VDI professional associations include: VDI Architectural Engineering Association, VDI Energy Engineering Association, Vehicle Engineering Association, VDI/VDE Precision Engineering Association, Design and Development Association, Plastics Association, Noise Reduction Association, Agricultural Technology Association, Logistics and Transportation Engineering Association, VDI/VDE Test and Adjustment Technology Association and Production Technology Association. The name of the VDI standard is: regulations of the Federal German Association of Engineers, and the number of the VDI standard is: standard code VDI+ four digits or VDI/VDE+ four digits; The search tool for VDI is: Directory of Rules Manual of the Federal German Engineer Association (Verzeichnis Aller Gultigen VDI-Richtlinie n und Handbucher = (UK) Directory of all current VDI guides and manuals, August 2000). C "China National Standard" is a standard that is of great significance to the national economic and technological development and needs to unify the technical requirements nationwide. Organized and formulated by the State Bureau of Technical Supervision, with unified approval, numbering and release. Its serial number consists of the code number of the national standard, the serial number of the national standard and the release year. Among them, the code name of the national standard consists of capital Chinese phonetic alphabet: the code name of the compulsory national standard is GB, and the code name of the recommended national standard is GB/T, such as: GB 3259-92 "China Book Name Chinese Phonetic Scheme"; GB/T 13745-92 discipline classification and code; GB/T 3860- 1995 descriptive indexing rules for documents. When searching, you can select a sub-volume of Chinese national standard compilation within the range of the serial number according to the standard serial number. If you don't know the standard number, you should consult the relevant standard catalogue, standard compilation and other reference books first, and get it immediately after consulting. There are also some collections of classification standards, including national standards, industry standards, departmental standards and enterprise standards. 10, bibliography, index and abstract belong to retrieval reference books, also known as "secondary documents". Bibliography is the abbreviation of the catalogue of books or newspapers. Commonly used bibliographies include the Catalogue of Sikuquanshu, the National General Bibliography and the National New Bibliography. Index, formerly known as "general inspection" and "preparation inspection", is a transliteration of English index and a retrieval tool for finding words, concepts, articles, people and other materials in books, periodicals or other documents. The commonly used indexes are national newspaper indexes. It is a retrieval and reportage publication that abstracts the contents of documents and arranges them in a certain way, usually in the form of periodicals or newspapers. Commonly used such as "China Electronics Science and Technology Digest", "Machinery Manufacturing Digest" and so on.