Alan Dundes

If a student takes the whole series of my folklore courses including the graduate seminars, he or she should learn something about fieldwork, something about bibliography, something about how to carry out library research, and something about how to publish that research.

American Educator

Andrea Barrett

When I'm sniffing around new territory, I often choose, rather randomly, one general book and then follow its bibliography and notes to other, more specialized works and to the primary source material.

American Novelist

Often required in essays and research papers to credit sources and avoid plagiarism.

Academic Requirement

Styles can vary (MLA, APA, Chicago) - always follow your institution's preferred format.

Format Specific

A bibliography lists sources used for information, without describing the source's contents.

Not a Summary

Refers to the scholarly study of books, covering their physical and historical aspects.

Literary Discipline

It's not just listing sources but understanding their backgrounds and significance.

Beyond Listing

Bibliography can illuminate the historical significance of books in culture.

Cultural Value

A bibliography of an author lists all the works they've produced, not just popular ones.

Author's Output

For researchers, a bibliography on a topic provides a roadmap of existing literature.

Research Aid

Reveals the scope and focus of a writer's work or the breadth of knowledge on a subject.