There are many types of reference sources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, biographical dictionaries, atlases, and chronologies. These sources provide background information on a topic and can quickly prepare you for more in-depth research. They can also lead you to other sources if you read closely and make note of works cited that you might be interested in.
One way to find reference sources - both print and digital - is to search the catalog for the genre terms Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, and Biographies in order to bring back results limited to these types of books. Of these three, biographies require the most scrutiny in regards to their being reference vs secondary sources: many of the results will be thorough biographies of individuals, rather than large compilations of brief biographical information.
Rather than scroll through all of the results, you can modify a search to limit results to items with specific terms in the title or subject, such as: dictionaries of americans or dictionaries of women.
Find biographies of over 19,000 deceased men and women who made significant contributions to building the United States. 1 simultaneous user.
Use to determine where to find biographical material on people from all time periods, geographic locations, and fields of endeavor.
Includes more than 650,000 biographical entries covering international figures from all time periods and areas of study.
Locate biographies with images (in some cases) of deceased persons worldwide who helped shape British history and culture from the fourth century BC to 2012. 3 simultaneous users.
Quality literature available for almost 500 Renaissance and Reformation topics, from artisans to witch hunts. OBO articles are written by leading scholars and are regularly updated to ensure they are accurate and reflect current research.
Encyclopedia of American History
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The Cambridge Dictionary of American Biography
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International Women in Science
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Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife
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