UCB Libraries

Are you beginning research on a topic new or unfamiliar to you?
If so, an excellent way to begin is to consult an encyclopedia.

Encyclopedic Sources

The ideal starting place if you are a non-specialist on your topic. They will typically provide:

• an overview and background information on a topic
• the established knowledge on a topic
• the most important facts about a topic
• the key figures, places, or events related to your topic
• a list of recommended readings on a topic

Benefits& Considerations

Benefits

• They have gone through an editorial process
• They are often written by specialists in the field
• They do not use jargon
• They tend to be short and concise

Considerations

• They are intended as an overview and are not the best source for up-to-date developments
• They are not a complete look at the scholarship and research on a topic
• They are a good starting point and a great place to establish keywords and research leads

General Sources

Online

Encyclopedia Britannica
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Oxford Digital Reference Shelf

World Almanac via Lexis Nexis CU

 

 

Specialized Sources

Online

Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology CU

Encyclopedia for Science and Technology CU

Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering CU

 

Print

Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sport

Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Encyclopedia Latina

Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy

Encyclopedia of Children, Adolescents, and the Media

Encyclopedia of Ethical, Legal, and Policy Issues in Biotechnology

Encyclopedia of Environmental Issues

Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings and Series

Globalization: Encyclopedia of Trade, Labor, and Politics

International Encyclopedia of Sexuality

Women in the Third World : an Encyclopedia of Contemporary Issues

Reference Universe

Reference Universe is a searchable database that indexes information from specialized subject encyclopedias. It searches both the titles of reference articles as well as the encyclopedia / dictionary indexes, providing a thorough level of access to materials and potential sources. CU

 

SEARCH your topic in Reference Universe, enter your topic in the search box below:

Watch a quick tutorial on how to use this resource!

 

Research & Subject Guides

Subject Guides

There are numerous subject-specific research guides available that list core recommended resources. These guides often point to encyclopedias and other reference sources.

 

Chinook is the catalog for materials owned by the CU Libraries. There are two ways to search Chinook, the library catalog, for encyclopedias.

 

By Keyword

EXAMPLE: [your topic keyword] AND encyclop*

NOTE: You may also try searching dictionary, handbook, or guide

By Subject Heading

Choose to search by LC Subject Heading and enter:

[subject heading]-Dictionaries
[subject heading]-Encyclopedias
[subject heading]- [Geographic subdivision]-Dictionaries
[subject heading]- [Geographic subdivision]-Encyclopedias

EXAMPLE:
Immigrants -- Encyclopedias
Immigrants -- United States -- Encyclopedias