Skip to Main Content

U.S. History

Direct comments to aanderson@nvcc.edu

Need Help?


For individual research help, schedule an appointment to meet with a librarian.


Online Encyclopedias

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.