LibGuides: Reference Sources (Encyclopedias &amp; more): Home

What are reference sources?

Reference sources are a way to quickly look-up information and are a great way to get to know a topic before conducting more in-depth research. Types of reference sources include:

Almanacs (Facts & Statistics)
Dictionaries (Definitions)
Encyclopedias (Concise info on a variety of subjects. Can also cover a single subject/topic in more detail)
Maps & Atlases (Geographical Information)
Thesaurus (Synonyms)

Major Reference Databases

CQ Researcher
Non-scholarly reports and analysis on issues in the news. Reports are written by journalists and professionally fact-checked. Each report includes an introductory overview, background and timeline, assessment of the current situation, tables and maps, a pro/con debate, and a list of further reading.
Credo Reference
Credo Reference is an ideal starting point for research with curated, authoritative reference sources that provide a firm foundation for understanding a topic.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context
Contains contextual information and opinions on hundreds of today's hottest social issues. Features continuously updated viewpoints, topic overviews, full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio files, and links to vetted websites.
Gale eBooks
Encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. You can search a single eBook or across an entire eBook collection.
Oxford English Dictionary
Widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. Includes definitions, meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words— past and present—from across the English-speaking world.
Oxford Reference
An online collection of premier reference eBooks including quotations, language dictionaries, encyclopedias, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.
Ulrich's Web
A directory that provides detailed information on a wide range of publications, including academic journals, open-access publications, popular magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and more from around the world. It covers all subjects and is a good tool for determining the type of content, such as if it's peer-reviewed.