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Reference work
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<p>A reference work is a document, such as a <a href="/facts/Academic_publishing/WfPqsYr1">paper</a>, <a href="/facts/Book/Yylgt4AC">book</a> or <a href="/facts/Periodical_literature/1Ep96WIt">periodical</a> (or their <a href="/facts/Electronic_publishing/1HuzvI5t">electronic equivalents</a>), to which one can refer for <a href="/facts/Information/3LdrzXtJ">information</a>. The information is intended to be found quickly when needed. Such works are usually <i>referred</i> to for particular pieces of information, rather than read beginning to end. The writing style used in these works is informative; the authors avoid opinions and the use of the first person, and emphasize facts. </p><p><a href="/facts/Index_(publishing)/amN9DI6s">Indices</a> are a common navigation feature in many types of reference works. Many reference works are put together by a team of contributors whose work is coordinated by one or more editors, rather than by an individual author. Updated <a href="/facts/Edition_(book)/dU0Rmxf1">editions</a> are usually published as needed, in some cases <a href="/facts/Annual_publication/0nFyr1Ds">annually</a>, such as <i><a href="/facts/Whitaker%2527s_Almanack/BlX2qGnr">Whitaker's Almanack</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/Who%2527s_Who_(UK)/1tXqIq2P">Who's Who</a></i>. </p><p>Reference works include <a href="/facts/Textbook/9sunkH2y">textbooks</a>, <a href="/facts/Almanac/LFaK6BWr">almanacs</a>, <a href="/facts/Atlas/0P16fANt">atlases</a>, <a href="/facts/Bibliography/xul38mej">bibliographies</a>, <a href="/facts/Biographical_dictionary/NBVKPf9p">biographical sources</a>, <a href="/facts/Cataloging/YMKrnNoU">catalogs</a> such as <a href="/facts/Library_catalog/mk474y74">library catalogs</a> and art catalogs, <a href="/facts/Concordance_(publishing)/WDLI6MA8">concordances</a>, <a href="/facts/Dictionary/klg2kL06">dictionaries</a>, directories such as <a href="/facts/Business_directory/jgxKCKf8">business directories</a> and <a href="/facts/Telephone_directory/UKxnLfs1">telephone directories</a>, <a href="/facts/Discography/JXjmKj26">discographies</a>, <a href="/facts/Encyclopedia/fRsmb4q6">encyclopedias</a>, <a href="/facts/Filmography/MaCM3AGI">filmographies</a>, <a href="/facts/Gazetteer/sb5TooQl">gazetteers</a>, <a href="/facts/Glossary/jWSovqDw">glossaries</a>, <a href="/facts/Handbook/2QHznuhB">handbooks</a>, indices such as <a href="/facts/Bibliographic_index/NwLY7n42">bibliographic indices</a> and <a href="/facts/Citation_index/JD6qja3B">citation indices</a>, <a href="/facts/User_guide/sb0Crduq">manuals</a>, <a href="/facts/Pathfinder_(library_science)/cbJq4XB9">research guides</a>, <a href="/facts/Thesaurus/w7xnH66H">thesauruses</a>, and <a href="/facts/Yearbook/45Feznpm">yearbooks</a>. Reference works, while traditionally printed, are often available in electronic form and can be obtained as <a href="/facts/Reference_software/HGghTFBs">reference software</a>, <a href="/facts/CD-ROM/JwuaYLJv">CD-ROMs</a>, <a href="/facts/DVD/7fJsHJrN">DVDs</a>, or online through the <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a>. <a href="/facts/Wikipedia/KDRNKWnc">Wikipedia</a>, an <a href="/facts/Online_encyclopedia/VP3XfYMM">online encyclopedia</a>, is both the largest and the most-read reference work in history. </p>