2. Static information sources

Dictionary definitions tell us that the word 'static' means 'to show little or no change' and this is a pretty accurate description of a static information source.

Once a static information source has been created, it is unlikely to be changed or updated for a significant amount of time.

Think about an encyclopedia which has been produced on a DVD. Once the encyclopedia has been written and checked for accuracy it probably will not be updated again for at least a year. So once the DVD has been made the data will not change - it will be static.

Books and newspapers are other examples of static information sources. Books take months, sometimes years to write. They are checked and edited thoroughly before being printed. They won't be changed for a long time, if ever. Newspapers on the other hand are printed each day and obviously they change on a daily basis. However, once the newspaper is compiled and printed for a particular day, it won't be changed again - thus it is a static information source.

Businesses produce accounts each year to show their income, expenditure and profits. Once the accounts have been finalised they will be printed and put into the annual company report. They cannot be changed and thus are a static information source.

Data collected by the Government for the ten year population census will show a snapshot picture of the country at a particular period in time.

Even though things change very quickly, people die, babies are born, people move house etc, the information in the census will not be changed until the next one is conducted.

This is another example of a static information source.