Learning Objective:The student will be able to choose the most appropriate resource for their information need.

Motivational Goal: Establish the importance of information skills.

This activity will categorize basic sources for currency and usefulness. It can be tailored to any collection of resources. It is not meant to be an all-inclusive list.

1. Divide students into groups and have them brainstorm a list of available resources.

2. Groups will share their list and the instructor will compile them into one class list on a chart or blackboard.

3. The instructor may deliberately sort the resources into groups as students read them, but without labels.

4. Question students about the resources. It would be helpful to ask the questions in relation to a current research task. -What source(s) might they use to find current information? -Which source(s) would provide historical or background information? -Where could they find a fact quickly? -Where would they find a map?

5. Students should eventually see the categories you have sorted the resources into. Have them provide labels for each group such as current info, quick facts, historical, maps, pictures. Some may fit more than one category. Remind students this is one criterion by which to select the best resource.

6. Continue with a discussion of evaluation criteria such as date of publication, relevance to topic, accuracy of information, ease of access.

7. Give each student a sorted list of common resources available in your library that they can use and prioritize for their research. Such as: Current Information -Periodicals -Maps -Newspapers -Atlases -Internet sources -www.mapquest.comN -Magazine databases/indexes Quick Fact -Almanacs -Dictionary -Telephone book