The Reference Collection consists of about 3,000 volumes, including encyclopedias, atlases, dictionaries, almanacs, bibliographies, industry standards, handbooks, and indexes and abstracts. The Reference Department also has a number of electronic resources to aid you in finding information. A librarian is on duty in the Reference Department until one hour before closing every day, to assist you with researching topics, using library resources, or locating materials. One way is to formulate a Research Question. Use Encyclopedias Encyclopedias may be used to obtain background information to formulate a research question.
Encyclopedias are summaries of knowledge.
General encyclopedias summarize all subject areas, while subject encyclopedias concentrate on specific subject areas, and thus provide more depth in that discipline. Encyclopedia articles may include lists of recommended readings. Terminology specific to certain subjects may be identified by using specialized subject dictionaries. Consider the relationships between your terms and formulate a search statement using Boolean terms. Link similar concepts with or to make a broader search.