Online Encyclopedias
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Britannica AcademicFully-searchable collection of authoritative encyclopedia articles. (NVCC)
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Credo ReferenceA collection of over 500 reference books on a variety of topics. (NVCC)
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Gale eBooks(Formerly Gale Virtual Reference Library) includes full-text encyclopedias, handbooks, and other sources for multidisciplinary research. (VIVA, NVCC)
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Oxford Reference OnlineMore than 100 Oxford University Press dictionaries and reference books. (VIVA)
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Bloom's LiteratureContains essays and criticism from encyclopedias and books examining the lives of great authors and their works throughout history. Also includes full-length videos of classic plays, information on literary characters, and more. (NVCC)
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Salem Press LiteratureA full-text database of critical surveys of the works of over 700 authors. Also includes Masterplots, a collection of short plot summaries and critical evaluations of major works of literature. (NVCC)
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Oxford African American Studies CenterOver 8,000 articles by top scholars that focus on the lives and events which have shaped African American history and culture. Also includes images and primary sources. (NVCC)
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Literature Resource Center (Gale)Look for BIOGRAPHIES and TOPIC & WORK OVERVIEWS
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Scribner Writers OnlineCritical essays, author biographies, and work overviews. (VIVA)
Why to Use Reference Books
An encyclopedia is a type of reference book. Use a reference book to:
- Define important vocabulary words related to your topic,
- Find a basic overview and main issues related to your topic,
- Find references to additional resources, and
- Discover important background information related to your topic.
You will typically not use a reference book or encyclopedia as a source in your research. The information in these sources is for your own background knowledge.