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Unit 8: Encyclopaedia

Properties of heavy water Notes
Who were the first to manufacture paper
Name for the scientist, who invented television in 1926

How long is the day during summer at North Pole
Summary of the work of Einstein

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
4. Encyclopaedia is best used for finding answers to background questions related to general
information and self-education for both the specialist and the layman.

5. An encyclopaedia cannot be regarded as a backbone of reference service.
6. Encyclopaedias are looked for concise, digested and in some cases simplified account on a
topic on which otherwise there may be abundance of available literature.

Caselet Legal Encyclopaedias

What are Legal Encyclopaedias?
Legal encyclopaedias cover a wide range of topics that are arranged alphabetically. Within
each topic, the discussion is arranged by sub-topics according to the legal principles
involved. Footnotes provide excerpts from judicial decisions and statutes.
Why are Legal Encyclopaedias useful?
Legal encyclopaedias provide broad coverage of American law including state and federal
law. They may be used to locate cases which support specific legal points. Unlike law
reviews, they do not critique the law, and unlike Restatements they do not suggest legal
reform.
It is helpful to use legal encyclopaedias at the beginning of a research project in order to
obtain a broad overview of the area of law. You can easily move from sub-topic to sub-
topic or to related areas of the law.
How do you research in encyclopaedias?

There are two ways of locating material in an encyclopaedia: the index and the topic list.
Use the index volumes including the annual index supplement which can be found at the
end of the set. Look up alternative terms, refer to cross-references, and read through
entries and sub-entries. When you have found the appropriate topic, examine the more
detailed subject index at the back of the volume containing that topic to find the appropriate
section.
Source: http://law.campbell.edu/assets/uploads/pages/library/guide-legal-encyclopedias.pdf

8.3 Types of Encyclopaedias

In order to organize the collection in the reference section effectively, they are divided into two
main categories, namely, general and special or subject encyclopaedias according to their scope,

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