Gathering background information from a variety of sources can help out in a number of ways:
Encyclopedias are a great source for background information! Enter your keywords directly in the search boxes below to locate background information in encyclopedias and dictionaries from Credo Reference and Gale eBooks.
Books and ebooks can be found using One Search, the Library's search tool. Try searching for your topic in the search box. If you need help finding or accessing a book or eBook, contact a librarian.
Books that are available for check out are located on the 2nd floor of the Library. Reference books are located on the first floor by the Reference Desk.
While One Search searches eBook databases, choosing to search a specific eBook database will give you different filtering options that can help you narrow your search. You will also have less unrelated information to sort through.
Formally called "Gale Virtual Reference Library." Ebooks, subject-specific encyclopedias, biographies, and contemporary topics organized into a variety of subjects including business, education, environment, medicine, mythology, science, and technology. Easy to search. Citations provided.
A vast collection of online books covering a wide range of topics including children’s and adult fiction, non-fiction, biographies, business, computer science, cooking, crafts, education, engineering, humor, law, literature and criticism, law, mathematics, philosophy, psychology, religion, science, self-help, social sciences, sports and games, study aids, language learning, travel, true crime. Citations provided.
Over 3 million articles from dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias, quotation sources and atlases. Articles are often very short. “Mind Maps” help with topic exploration. Includes video content.