Tertiary Information Sources: Library & Information Science Study Guide
Comprehensive analytical notes curated from e-PG Pathshala (M-04 & M-05), eGyanKosh (BLIS/MLIS Course Materials), Denis Grogan’s & William A. Katz’s classification frameworks, and UGC NET / SET / KVS / NVS librarian examination patterns.
1. Definition & Conceptual Foundation
In Library and Information Science (LIS), information sources are traditionally categorized into Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary based on originality, directness, and distance from the original creation.
Tertiary Information Sources consist of materials whose core function is to facilitate the use of primary and secondary literature. They act as "signposts", "gateways", or comprehensive guides that point researchers directly toward the primary and secondary sources containing the desired substantive information. Unlike primary documents (which report new facts) or secondary documents (which analyze or index primary facts), tertiary sources serve as distillations, indexes of indexes, and institutional pointers.
Denis Grogan's Criterion: Denis Grogan (1973) asserts that tertiary sources are not concerned directly with subject knowledge itself; rather, their main purpose is to aid the reader in using primary and secondary sources.
2. Theoretical Classification Models (UGC NET Essentials)
| Theorist / Authority | Classification Scheme | Position of Tertiary Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Denis J. Grogan (1973) | Tripartite Model: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary | Guides to literature, bibliographies of bibliographies, directories, directories of research institutions, yearbooks, lists of research in progress. |
| C. W. Hanson (1971) | Bipartite Model: Primary and Secondary | Merges tertiary sources inside Secondary Sources (does not treat tertiary as an independent class). |
| S. R. Ranganathan | Physical/Documentary taxonomy: Conventional, Neo-Conventional, Non-Conventional, Meta-Documents | Classification based on nature of recording and physical carrier rather than bibliographic tier. |
| William A. Katz (2002) | Functional & Reference division | Treats tertiary tools as indirect access tools / bibliographic control apparatus. |
3. Distinguishing Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
| Attribute | Primary Sources | Secondary Sources | Tertiary Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature of Information | Original, firsthand discovery, unfiltered findings. | Processed, digested, analyzed, or indexed representation of primary data. | Compilations of secondary and primary keys; access aids; meta-information. |
| Proximity to Discovery | Direct origin point (Zero degree of separation). | Derived from primary (First remove). | Derived from secondary/primary (Second remove). |
| Primary Purpose | Disseminate original research results. | Synthesize, index, or review scattered knowledge. | Locate primary and secondary tools; universal bibliographic control. |
| Standard Examples | Patents, Theses, Research Papers, Standards, Lab Notebooks. | Abstracting journals, Indexing periodicals, Textbooks, Review articles. | Bibliography of Bibliographies, Guides to Literature, Directories, Handbooks. |
4. Major Typologies and Classical Exam Examples
4.1 Bibliography of Bibliographies
Publications that list, describe, and locate published bibliographies within single subject fields, geographical regions, or globally.
- A World Bibliography of Bibliographies: Compiled by Theodore Besterman (classic 5-volume set covering over 117,000 titles).
- Bibliographic Index: H. W. Wilson publication (began 1937); indexes bibliographies published separately or included in books and journal articles.
4.2 Guides to Literature / Reference Sources
Systematic roadmaps evaluating and pointing researchers to the most authoritative reference tools, databases, and core journals in a branch of knowledge.
- Guide to Reference Books: Founded by Alice Bertha Kroeger (1902), famously sustained by Isadore Gilbert Mudge, Constance M. Winchell, and Eugene P. Sheehy (published by American Library Association).
- Guide to Reference Material: Compiled by A. J. Walford (published by Library Association, London).
- Information Sources in Science and Technology: Denis Grogan / Butterworths Guides.
4.3 Directories and Almanacs
Lists of people, organizations, institutions, manufacturing plants, or publishers arranged systematically with operational contact and structural details.
- World of Learning: Europa Publications (annual directory of universities, academies, libraries, research institutions, and learned societies worldwide).
- Directory of Scientific Research Institutions in India: NISCAIR / CSIR-NIScPR.
- Europa World Year Book: Europa Publications (detailed political, diplomatic, and socioeconomic survey of countries and international bodies).
4.4 Lists of Research in Progress / Current Research Registers
Registers notifying scholars about on-going research investigations before publication, preventing accidental duplication.
- Shodhgangotri: INFLIBNET repository of Indian research synopses, research-in-progress, and MPhil/PhD trends.
- Current Research in Britain (CRIB): British Library register.
- Smithsonian Science Information Exchange (SSIE): Historic US database tracking ongoing federally sponsored investigations.
4.5 Guides to Libraries, Archives, and Information Centers
- American Library Directory: R. R. Bowker.
- Libraries, Museums, and Art Galleries Year Book: James Clarke.
- World Guide to Libraries: K. G. Saur / De Gruyter.
5. Characteristics and Functions in Reference Service
- Directional Navigation: Acts as an indispensable pointer during the preliminary search stage, preventing researcher time loss.
- Exhaustive Coverage: Minimizes the probability of missing obscure primary records by leveraging consolidated meta-bibliographies.
- High Latency / Time Lag: Because tertiary sources compile already-established secondary tools, they possess a longer gestation period and reflect established rather than real-time developments.
- Quality Filter: Authoritative guides (e.g., Walford or Sheehy) filter out sub-standard secondary materials through expert evaluation and annotations.
6. Frequently Tested UGC NET / SET / KVS Exam Points
- Besterman's Landmark Work: "Theodore Besterman's World Bibliography of Bibliographies" is classified under Tertiary Sources (asked repeatedly across UGC NET Paper II & III).
- The Hanson vs. Grogan Dichotomy: Denis Grogan recognizes three categories (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary), whereas C. W. Hanson recognizes only two (Primary, Secondary). Hanson subsumed tertiary documents under the secondary header.
- Classification of Yearbooks & Directories: In several competitive examinations following Grogan's explicit scheme, Directories, Yearbooks, and Almanacs are categorized as Tertiary Sources, whereas general subject textbooks without bibliographic pointer intent are categorized as secondary.
- Abstracting & Indexing Services: Always classify Abstracting Periodicals (e.g., Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts) as Secondary Sources. Do not confuse them with tertiary literature guides.
- Union Catalogues & Bibliographies of Bibliographies: A single library catalogue is an access tool; a Union Catalogue across regions or a Bibliography of Bibliographies operates at the Tertiary level.