How do I find reference sources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.)?
What is a "reference" source?
Reference sources are authoritative works that you can refer to for specific answers or information. There are many types of reference sources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauri, directories, almanacs, and handbooks. But in broader terms, reference works can also include materials such as bibliographies, atlases, gazetteers, style manuals, or statistical sources.
Most reference sources provide a quick and effective way of locating factual information, such as statistics, addresses, or definitions. But reference materials can also provide essential background information for your research. If you are looking for a brief summary of an event, a biography of a person, or are looking for more resources on a topic, a reference book can be a great way to begin your research.
The Library's Reference Collections
The Library has reference materials both in print and online through the Library's web site. Print reference materials, in general, are shelved on the main floor of the Library near the reference desk (where the librarians are located). However, at the Regenstein Library, additional subject-specific reference collections are located throughout the building in its various Reading Rooms. Most reference materials cannot be checked out of the Library. However, any reference materials shelved in the bookstacks are available for checkout, unless labeled "Building Use Only."