So, the first step in your search strategy is to determine what factual information is held in what type of resource. Thus, the more you already know about a person, the easier it may be to find information. They will tell the user who, what, when and where, occasionally how, but seldom why. Yearbooks limit themselves to a single year. Almanacs cover the previous year most extensively but usually contain some historical information, often in the form of chronologies or time lines.
Dictionaries contain an alphabetized list of unconnected items, usually words.
They are used to determine spelling, syllabication, pronounciation, definition, synonyms and offer grammatical information. They may also include historical and etymological notes, and may be general or specialized. Generally, dictionaries take one of two approaches when determining their content. They may be descriptive, believing that the entries for words must reflect the common culture and spoken word, or prescriptive, believing that definition and usage should adhere to standards, customs, and traditions. Each entry generally will contain a name, address, phone number or similar data which allows the user to contact the person or organization.