Intended for students studying information resources units at Kuring-gai College of Advanced Education, this coursebook examines the nature of information, its generation, and the categories and characteristics of various formats of information resources available. Designed as an introduction to sources of brief factual information, the document contains sections on dictionaries; encyclopedias; handbooks, manuals, and yearbooks; and directories. For each type of resource examined, the characteristics are given and titles are listed as examples, concentrating on Australian resources but also including works of British and American origin. Appropriate evaluation criteria are discussed and effective means of use are described. Student activities involving independent study and work in class, both on individual and group bases, are included. (THC)