| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| atlas | A book of maps with or without text. The word atlas was first used as the title of a book by Gerardus Mercator in 1585. | Atlas of the World, Rand McNally Atlas of the Earth's Resources |
| bibliographic Index | A list or guide of sources for a particular subject. | Television: A Guide to Literature |
| biographical Index | A book of information about people who are well known in particular fields. | Who's Who, Current Biography |
| dictionary | Definitions, spellings, and pronunciations of words, arranged in alphabetical order. | The American Heritage Dictionary, The Misspellers' Dictionary, Oxford English Dictionary |
| directory | The names and addresses as well as other facts about specific groups, persons, or organizations. | Virginia General Legislative Directory |
| encyclopedia | Information on just about every subject, arranged in alphabetical order. | Collier's Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia of Education |
| gazetteer | A geographical dictionary or index with the names or places and their locations in alphabetical order. | Chambers World Gazetteer: An A-Z of Geographical Information |
| guidebook | Information and directions, often for travelers. | Fodor's Travel Guides, Barron's Guide to the Most Prestigious Colleges |
| manual or handbook | Instruction on how to do or make something. | A Manual for Writing Term Papers |
| thesaurus | Synonyms, or near synonyms, for words as well as related terms. | Roget's Thesaurus |
| yearbook or annual | Current information on a wide range of topics. | Time Almanac, Guinness Book of World Records |