A list of bibliographic categories can assist librarians in the preparation of creating pathfinders. Inclusion of each category is dependent on the topic and type of library so all units listed below may not be used in one pathfinder. The list below is not intended to represent how the items will appear on a Web page, but to provide a librarian with guidance for gathering resources. See the two sample pathfinder templates for suggested placement of each category.

1. Library's Logo

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2. Library's Main Navigation Bar

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3. Title: A Research Guide

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4. Table of Contents

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5. Introduction

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6. Print a Printer-Friendly Page

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7. Local Information

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8. Research Materials (Books, videos, DVDs, CDs, etc.)

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Online Databases

List links to relevant databases with descriptions that are specific to each topic. For example, in your employment pathfinders, explain how visitors can use a business directory to locate potential employers.

E-books

Use cover art and annotations to display related e-books.

Web Sites

Select Web sites that meet collection development criteria. Create embedded links within the title of the Web site. Some libraries may choose to display the full Web site address; however, lengthy addresses can be cumbersome to display.

Associations

List associations, their contact information and links to their Web sites.

Primary Sources

Information that provides first-hand account or original data such as journal entries, newspaper articles, interviews, and government document.

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Biographies

List any books detailing the life of an individual or list collective biographies such as Asian-American Authors, by Kathy Ishizuka. Bibliographies offer researchers suggestions for further materials once they have exhausted those available on the pathfinder. Bibliographies can be found in the library catalog, other catalogs, or even on the Web.

Statistics

List here books or Web sites that offer statistics on the subject. For example, if the topic is the library's home state of Texas, a link to State and County QuickFacts at the U.S. Department of Census site brings researchers directly to a page that offers statistics about Texas (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48000.html).

Preprints

A preprint is anything that appears before the official printing-often a scientific article that will later appear in a journal. Preprints are normally peer reviewed and scientific and technical in nature.

Indexes and Abstracts

An index is a finding aid that provides access to a field's publications arranged by author, subject, title, and other categories. An example is Library Literature, Biography Index. AbstractsÑobjective summaries of publicationsÑmay be included.

Citation Styles

Libraries can include a brief listing of the more popular citation styles or more detailed information on the one most preferred by the affiliated school. Here is an example of how this information can be displayed:

The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.

An essential reference for authors, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers in any field, it covers publishing formats, editorial style and method, documentation of electronic sources, and book design and production.

A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th ed. by Kate L. Turabian. Revised by John Grossman and Alice Bennett. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.

B. Honigsblum's revised and expanded version of Kate Turabian's standard guide for student writers. Fourteen chapters cover how to put a paper together, from introductory chapters to the bibliography.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed. by Joseph Gibaldi. New York: Modern Language Association, 2003.

The MLA Handbook covers all aspects of research writing, from selecting a topic to submitting the completed paper. Aimed at high school and undergraduate students.

MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 2nd ed. by Joseph Gibaldi. New York: Modern Language Association, 1998.

The standard guide for graduate students, teachers, and scholars. Includes citation and stylistic conventions in the preparation of manuscripts, theses, and dissertations.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2001.

Provides guidance on grammar and a reference and citation system and how to accurately publish numbers, metrication, statistical and mathematical data, tables, and figures for use in writing, reports, or presentations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Some pathfinders, in addition to listing resources, may list frequently asked questions about certain topics. For example, some of the frequently asked questions of a patron starting a business may include the following: How do I write a business plan? Where can I get money for my business? How do I register my business?

Subject Headings and Keywords

Libraries may display and link to Library of Congress Subject Headings, Dewey classifications, or Sears List of Subject Headings. Insert appropriate subject headings and keywords that, when clicked, generate a search in the library catalog. These links are especially useful because they produce dynamic results as material is continually added to the library catalog. Explore the functionality of the library's Web catalog. For example, some library catalogs allow current awareness or selective dissemination of information (SDI) services so that customers can run an automated search at a frequency they specify.

Call Numbers to Browse

Offering call number ranges can help direct customers to the right section of the library. Depending on the topic, inclusion of call numbers may either help or hinder in locating the items. For example, libraries within a multi-branch system may have different locations for the item, making it difficult to locate without viewing the detailed holdings.

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9. Copyright Notice and Date Created or Revised

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10. URL for the Pathfinder