General Reference: Home

Use the tabs above to locate general reference books, articles, journals, and much more. To view a full listing of guides available from the library, use the page's breadcrumbs and select Research Guides.

What is a general reference source?

   General reference sources are a great starting point of any research project, and provide factual information. This includes information that provides answers to: who, what, where, when, and how. 

Examples:

• Almanacs
• Biographies
• Dictionaries
• Encyclopedias
• Gazatteers
• Handbooks, Guides, and Summaries
• Indexes
• Maps and Atlases

Why use a general reference source?

   Reference materials are good starting points for research because they provide:

• introductory or background information on a number of topics
• keywords and search terms for searches
• a bibliography listing other resources on those topics

If you need further help, please feel free to consult a reference librarian, either at the reference desk, or via phone or chat services.