Macdonald-Kelce Library: Introduction to Library Research: Reference: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

What is Reference?

Reference sources are books that provide summaries, definitions of terms, quick facts, data, and bibliographies. They are a perfect place to start when you need an overview of a topic or are required to cite a definition of a term. Many reference materials have moved from print format to digitized databases since the information in them can rapidly change.

Reference includes: Dictionaries, Thesauri, Atlases, Encyclopedias, Bibliographies, Yearbooks, Timelines, Quotations, Handbooks, and Manuals

In a nutshell, start with a reference source when you need a quick easy look-up of factual information.

--> A note on Wikipedia: While Wikipedia can be a fountain of excellent information, it remains an open-source encyclopedia that is not necessarily vetted for accuracy in every article. Use Wikipedia to get some good background information, collect terminology and important names, and seek out the works cited at the end of the entry.

Dictionaries

In the databases:

Britannica Academic This link opens in a new window
Offers the complete Encyclopedia Britannica online as well as Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus.
Dictionary of Literary Biography (Gale Literature) This link opens in a new window
Contains biographical and critical essays on the lives, works and careers of the world's most influential literary figures.
Music Online : Reference This link opens in a new window
Brings together a variety of essential music reference materials, spanning the entire history of Western classical music, in a unified online database.
Included are the authoritative reference titles The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Baker’s Dictionary of Music, Baker’s Bibliographical Dictionary of Musicians, and Baker’s Student Encyclopedia of Music. Also includes African American Music Reference and Classical Music Reference Library.
Oxford Art Online This link opens in a new window
An authoritative and encyclopedic reference resource on art, architecture, and design.
Provides bibliographies, exhibition histories, auction records, as well as images of art, structures, plans, and artist signatures. Includes the Benezit Dictionary of Artists, the Grove Dictionary of Art, the Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, The Oxford Companion to Western Art, and The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms.

Oxford Art Online offers access to the most authoritative, inclusive, and easily searchable online art resources available today. Through a single gateway, users can access and cross-search Oxford’s acclaimed, regularly updated art reference works: the Grove Dictionary of Art and the Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Grove Art is the foremost scholarly art encyclopedia, offering global coverage of visual culture, composed and expanded in collaboration with thousands of scholars and specialists around the world. Benezit offers unique information about the sale and collection of artists’ work, and it is one of the most comprehensive and definitive resources of artists’ biographies available. In addition, users can search and access Oxford art reference titles including the Encyclopedia of Aesthetics (2nd edition), The Oxford Companion to Western Art, and The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms.
Oxford English Dictionary This link opens in a new window
An authoritative resource on the evolution of the English language, word meanings, history, and pronunciation.
Oxford Music Online This link opens in a new window
An encyclopedia covering music, musicians, music-making, and music scholarship. Provides access to The Oxford Dictionary of Music and The Oxford Companion to Music.
Oxford Reference This link opens in a new window
Access all Oxford's dictionaries, companions, and encyclopedias in one place.
Oxford Reference is a multi-disciplinary database that features a range of short entries, timelines, quotations, and lengthy in-depth reference articles on all topics. Browse by subject or enter a keyword in the search box.

Encyclopedias

In the databases:

AccessScience This link opens in a new window
Multimedia encyclopedia encompassing all major scientific disciplines.
Britannica Academic This link opens in a new window
Offers the complete Encyclopedia Britannica online as well as Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus.
CQ Press This link opens in a new window
CQ Press focuses on political science and current affairs. Topics range from social and teen issues to environment, health, education, science and technology, as well as resources covering American government, history, and public policy.
Daily Life through History This link opens in a new window
Presents the daily life and customs of peoples throughout history and modern times with reference articles, images, maps and primary documents.
Dictionary of Literary Biography (Gale Literature) This link opens in a new window
Contains biographical and critical essays on the lives, works and careers of the world's most influential literary figures.
Europa World Plus This link opens in a new window
This is the online version of the Europa World Year Book. Covers political and economic information on most countries and territories.
Literature This link opens in a new window
Search Gale Literature for a good collection of digitized literature (novels), literary criticism, interviews, biographies, poetry, plays, speeches, and more.
Music Online : Reference This link opens in a new window
Brings together a variety of essential music reference materials, spanning the entire history of Western classical music, in a unified online database.
Included are the authoritative reference titles The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Baker’s Dictionary of Music, Baker’s Bibliographical Dictionary of Musicians, and Baker’s Student Encyclopedia of Music. Also includes African American Music Reference and Classical Music Reference Library.
Oxford Handbooks Online This link opens in a new window
Authoritative and state-of-the-art surveys of current thinking and research, from leading international figures in the discipline.
Oxford Music Online This link opens in a new window
An encyclopedia covering music, musicians, music-making, and music scholarship. Provides access to The Oxford Dictionary of Music and The Oxford Companion to Music.
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy This link opens in a new window
Provides articles by experts on all matters of philosophy including Anglo-America, ethical and political, cross-cultural, interdisciplinary, continental, and contemporary issues.