Using Reference Sources
Reference sources are great resources to use as you get started on your
topic. They are not intended to be read cover-to-cover, but rather provide you with more concise
information as you begin to explore a topic. Reference sources generally provide several
things:
- Background information about a topic.
- Brief, factual overviews of topics.
- Information about important dates, events, and people associated with a topic.
- Terminology and definitions of terms related to a topic.
- Articles written by authors with expertise in the subject matter.
- Bibliographies of sources for further reading.
Types of reference sources
Different types of reference sources answer different types of questions. Listed below are
common types of reference sources and the kind of information contained in each:
- Almanac - Compilations of facts and statistics, usually one volume.
- Atlas - Maps and geographical information.
- Biographical sources - Biographical information about individuals.
- Dictionary - Definitions of terms, either general or in relation to a specific subject or
discipline.
- Encyclopedia - Comprehensive summaries of factual information, providing more detail than a
dictionary.
- Handbook - Concise explanatory information on a topic.
References sources in the Undergraduate Library
The reference books listed below are all included in the Undergraduate Library's Reference
Collection. These are suggested as good starting points for getting started in the various subject
areas listed below. This is by no means a comprehensive list of sources. If you do not see a
reference book that will help you find information on your topic, ask for assistance at the
Research Desk.
Print a handout
on Using Reference Sources.
Advertising/Marketing
- The Advertising age encyclopedia of advertising Q. 659.103 Ad964
- Encyclopedia of major marketing campaign Q. 659.1073 En19
Crime and Law (including Violence and Guns)
- Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment Q 364.03 En193
- Encyclopedia of gun control and gun rights 363.33097303 Ut8e
- The encyclopedia of violence: origins, attitudes, consequences 303.603 D547e
- Gun control: a reference handbook 363.330973 K945G
- Guns in American society: an encyclopedia of history, politics, culture, and the law
363.33097303 G957
- Violence in America: an encyclopedia Q. 303.6097303 V812
- Statistical handbook on violence in America Q. 303.60973021 St29
- Violence and the media: a reference handbook 303.6 N482v
Drugs-Their Use and Abuse
- Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sports (good section on performance enhancing drugs) 796.03
B455
- Drugs and drug policy in America: a documentary history 362.290973 B411d
- Encyclopedia of drugs and alcohol >Q. 362.2903 En19
- Encyclopedia of Smoking and Tobacco362.2960973 H616e
Education
- Encyclopedia of American Education 370.973 Un 32e 2001
- Encyclopedia of Education and Human Development Q.370.3 En 194
- Encyclopedia of Educational Research 370.3 En192 1992
- Encyclopedia of Special Education Q.371.903 En 19 2000
- Learning Disabilities Sourcebook 371.926 L479
- Greenwood Dictionary of Education 370.3 G856
- Encyclopedia of Education (8 vol.) Q370.3 En194 2003
- Philosophy of Education: an encyclopedia 370.1 P5491
Environment
- The encyclopedia of the environment 363.7003 En19
- Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues 363.7003 En192
- Environmental Encyclopedia Q.363.7003 En89 2003
- The McGraw-Hill Recycling Handbook 363.7282 M459 2001
Ethics
- Bioethics: sex, genetics & human reproduction Q. 176 En191
- Encyclopedia of bioethics Q. 174.2 EN191995
- Encyclopedia of ethics 170.3 En192001
Fine Arts (Film, Music, Theater, Photography)
- 1/2/3/4 For the Play 016.8088241 H338o
- Encyclopedia of Popular Music781.6403 En191998
- Film Review Annual 791.437 F4873
- Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History 781.6609 G856
- History of the American Cinema 791.430973 H629
- The New York Times Film Reviews 791.43 N48
- The New York Times Theater Reviews Q.792 N485
- Play Index 016.80882 P69
- Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music 782.42164 V8192002
Health/Medicine
- Encyclopedia of Diet Fads 613.2503 B489e
- Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition Q 612.303 En19
- Encyclopedia of Obesity and EatingDisorders 616.8526003 C272e2000
- The Gale encyclopedia of alternative medicine Q. 615.503 G132005
- The Gale encyclopedia of medicine Q. 616.003 G1312006
- Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z Q 613.203 N959
- Encyclopedia of sex 306.703 En192
- The Continuum complete international encyclopedia of sexuality Q. 306.703
In82004
- Human sexuality : an encyclopedia 306.703 H88
Literature
- Masterplots 809 M393
- Literary Critics and Criticism Q.801.95 C8697
- Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature Q.810.3 Ox25
- Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy 823.08 G856
- Short Story Index 016.80883 SH8
Media and Communication
- Encyclopedia of Communication and Information Q. 302.203 En19
- Encyclopedia of Propaganda 303.37503 En19
- Media and politics in America : a reference handbook 302.230973 St41m
- Public opinion and polling around the world: a Historical Encyclopedia 303.38 P964
- Encyclopedia of television subjects, themes and settings 791.4575 T275e
- Encyclopedia of television Q. 791.4503 En192004
Political Science
- Atlas of American Politics 1960-2000 Q320.97309045 At65
- Elections A to Z 324.6097303 M784e
- Encyclopedia of the Democratic Party Q324.273403 En19 v.3-4
- Encyclopedia of Presidential Campaigns, Slogans, Issues, and Platforms 324.973003
R543e
- Encyclopedia of the Republican Party Q324.273403 En19 v.1-2
- The Encyclopedia of Third Parties in AmericaQ324.273 K945e 2000
- Voting in America324.60973 D561v
Popular Culture
- Bowling, beatniks, and bell-bottoms: pop culture of 20th-century America 306.09730904 B682
- American Decades Q. 973.91 Am353
- Encyclopedia of American Social History Q 301.0973 En19
- Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Culture 973.9203 En194
- The Greenwood guide to American popular culture 306.40973 G857
- The guide to United States popular culture Q. 306.097303 G941
- St. James encyclopedia of popular culture Q 973.9 St1
Psychology
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) 132 Am35d 1994
- Encyclopedia of Psychology 150.3 En19
- Magill's Encyclopedia of Social Science: Psychology 150.3M272
- Encyclopedia of human emotions Q. 152.403 En19
Race, Class, Culture, Sexual Orientation, Gender
- American Immigrant Cultures Q 305.800973 Am354
- Countries and their cultures Q.306.03 C832
- Encyclopedia of the world's minorities Q.305.8003 En197
- Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural AmericaQ 305.800973 G131 1999 Gay and lesbian issues: a
reference handbook 305.9 St492g
- Gay and lesbian rights in the United States : a documentary history 305.90664 G256
- Gay rights on trial: a reference handbook 342.73085 W179g
- Lgbt, encyclopedia of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history in AmericaQ. 306.7660973
L599
- Racial and Ethnic Relations in America 305.800973 R1156
- Religion and American Cultures Q200.97303 R279
- Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life Q305.8003 W893
Religion
- Cults in America 291 C899
- Encyclopedia of Religion Q.200.321 En19
- The encyclopedia of religion and nature 201.7703 En192
- The Encyclopedia of Unbelief 210.321 En19
- Gods, Goddesses and Mythology Q.201.303 G549
- Religions of the World Q.291 R2791
Social Problems (National & Domestic)
- Current issues: Macmillan social science library Q. 306.0973 C936
- Editorials on File Q.070 Ed46
- Encyclopedia of sociology Q. 301.03 En199 2000
- Facts on File 051 FACT
- Issues and Controversies on File 973.05 IS
- Social issues (Encyclopedia of Sociology) Q. 301.03 So13
- Social Issues in AmericaQ.361.97303 So1323
- Social issues in science and technology: an encyclopedia 303.48303 N482s
Sports/Recreation
- Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sports 796.03 B455
- Chronicle of the Olympics Q. 796.48 C468
- International Encyclopedia of Women and Sports Q.796.082 In82
- Native Americans in Sports 796.08997 N213
Terrorism
- Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy Q327.73003 H279e
- Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security Q327.1203 En192
- Encyclopedia of Terrorism Q. 303.62503 C733e
- Spy Book: the Encyclopedia of Espionage 327.1203 P766s
- United States Intelligence: an encyclopedia 327.1273 Un3
- Waging War on Trial 327.73009 D627w
Women and Gender
- Encyclopedia of women and gender: sex similarities and differences and the impact of society on
gender Q. 305.403 En192
- Routledge international encyclopedia of women: global women's issues and knowledge Q.
305.403 R765Women in the
- Third World: an encyclopedia of contemporary issues Q. 305.42091724 W84221
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