Biographical books or databases that cover individuals in more depth than directories, are called collective biographies or in some cases, biographical dictionaries. People in collective biographies may be famous enough to have had individual biographies written about them or they may be less well known but still have made important contributions to their field. As with individual biographies, historical figures are more apt to show up, but living persons who have achieved significant fame or prominence may also be covered. OR follow this strategy in the ASU Libraries' Catalog . Use the Library of Congress Subject search and enter the professional title and the word biography .
Obituaries are a common source of biographical information.
Biographical features are sometimes run on the birth or death anniversaries of famous people. Receipt of awards or honors is the next most likely newsworthy event in which biographical information may appear. Internet news services work best for finding very current news, as they seldom have stories more than a day or two old. In The News To find items in the major U.S. newspapers from 1989 to within the last several months, use Newspaper Abstracts . To find information in newspapers prior to 1989, ask at the Hayden Reference Desk for assistance.