The goal of this guide is to give librarians at small and medium sized libraries in Maine some helpful suggestions of places to look for commonly asked questions and ideas of print reference resources to purchase if your library has the budget. If you are ever stuck with a question from a patron, we are happy to help out or for you to refer your patron directly to us.
The many small public library reference questions can be answered with a few basic tools like almanacs, dictionaries and atlases. The resources below are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but are examples that can help you get started or that you can refer a patron to. If your library has the budget to purchase print versions of any of the resources below, they can be helpful to have near your reference desk for patron use.
We have also included a number of Maine specific online resources that we hope will prove useful.
Dictionaries contain information about words such as spelling, pronunciation, definitions and derivation and some contain charts, pictures and synonyms. Dictionaries are usually updated every five years.
The Maine State Library has a full print set of the Oxford English Dictionary as well as several other print dictionaries and thesauri. Call the Reference Desk at 207-287-5608 if you need assistance in accessing any of them.
Atlases contain geographic information such as demographics, climate, vegetation and roads.
Encyclopedias in print form are multi-volume sets containing articles on either a variety of subjects or just one subject. The articles are great for overviews of a subject area and often contain bibliographies that are useful for further exploration.
Digital Maine Library has an encyclopedia available to all Maine residents.
The Maine State Library also has many subject specific encyclopedias available in print that you can search for in URSUS.
Local Town Resources - If possible and available, your library should have the following local resources:
Frequent Maine state government resources:
As librarians, we can not give legal advice to or interpret the law for our patrons. We can refer them to resources that may answer their question or suggest they seek legal council if they have a specific legal conundrum.
The Maine Law & Legislative Library maintains a list of Family Law resources that can direct patrons to books and websites related to topics on adoption, child custody/support, divorce, domestic violence, elder abuse, and marriage and other unions. The law librarians at the Law & Legislative Library can also assist either you or your patrons with questions about Maine Law through their Ask a Librarian contact page.
The Maine Bar Association has a lawyer referral service as well as a list of other organizations that offer legal assistance.
The Board of Overseers of the Bar also has a attorney directory.
The Maine People's Resource Center created a list dedicated to the Issues, Policy & Public Education topics that impact the residents of Maine.
The Maine State Legislature provides information on Bill Status, Public Hearings/Workshops, Statutes, and more in the Maine House and Senate.
As librarians, we can not give medical advice, but can refer patrons to reliable sources of medical information.
As librarians, we cannot offer business advice, but we can refer them to professionals who are trained to help.
Business
Employment
Writing
Two popular style guides for formatting essays and including appropriate citations:
Formal Meetings
General
The Maine State Library has print editions of each of these guides. Call the Reference Desk at 207-287-5608 if you need assistance in accessing any of them.