It is surprising how many, especially of the younger people in a community, can be taught within one year, on their occasional visits, to make the proper use of at least a few reference books.
Another rule of very general application is: Go first to a dictionary.
In many cases a question answers itself, or betrays where its answer may best be found, if it is once plainly stated.

And nothing is better than reference to a few words in a dictionary for the clear statement of a question.

The larger dictionaries, moreover, and notably the Century, will answer many more inquiries than even great readers often suppose.
Many questions come up again and again.

Of these, and of the references which answered them, notes should be kept on cards for future use.

In fact it is well to keep an index in this way of the references looked up for all the more important inquiries.
The following excellent advice is from an article on The use of periodicals in reference work, by Frederick Winthrop Faxon, in Public Libraries for June, 1898: "In all reference work periodicals play a large part.