How to find encyclopedias
Library guides exist for many subjects and classes. Most of them include selected background sources or subject encyclopedias for each topic area.
Library catalogs can be searched with keyword 'encyclopedia?' (the ? allows for variant word endings, e.g. encyclopedia or encyclopedias) combined with a subject such as 'urban' or 'sociology' or 'women.'
Reference staff can also provide helpful suggestions!
Value of Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias are great for:
- locating authoritative, peer-reviewed, high quality information
- choosing a topic
- educating yourself quickly
- gaining background information easily (major ideas, theories, events, people)
- identifying variant spellings, vocabulary, terminology
- finding a bibliography (list of important, selected references for further reading)