Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Reference Works
Reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopedias provide background information. These resources are useful when you:
- Want to quickly learn about a topic.
- Are having trouble selecting a topic for an assignment.
- Don’t know what search terms to use.
- Need to find facts and figures.
Virtual Reference
Dictionaries
A Dictionary of Comparative Religions by
Call Number: Ref. 291.03 D561ISBN: 9780684155616Publication Date:Alphabetic list of subjects relating to the religious beliefs and practices of mankind.
The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions by
Call Number: Ref. 200.3 Ox2ISBN: 9780198662426Publication Date:The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions is the most wide-ranging A–Z reference guide to all aspects of the world’s religions, past and present. Whether the reader seeks quick, accessible answers from the short entries, or more detailed discussion from the longer, more discursive articles, it offers a wealth of unrivaled and unbiased, authoritative detail.
Encyclopedias
The Concise Encyclopedia of Living Faiths by
Call Number: Ref. 290.82 Z12cISBN: 9780807011515Publication Date:Explains the history, doctrines, and practices of the major religions of both the East and West which have survived to become dominant faiths in the modern age.
Encyclopedia of Global Religion by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 9781452266565Publication Date:The multi-volume Encyclopedia of Global Religion provides a comprehensive overview of the globalization of religious culture and society around the world in both its historical and contemporary aspects.
Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 9780203484333Publication Date:The Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements provides uniquely global coverage of the phenomenon, with entries on over three hundred movements from almost every country in the world.
Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development by
Call Number: eBookISBN: 9781452265384Publication Date:The Encyclopedia of Religious and Spiritual Development is the first reference work to focus on the developmental process of religion and spirituality across the human life span. … This innovative encyclopedia offers insight into the characteristics of people and their contexts that interact to influence religious and spiritual development over time.
Religion and American Cultures by
Call Number: Ref. 200.973 R2795ISBN: 9781576078549Publication Date:A multicultural survey of established and new American religions, this exhaustive three-volume encyclopedia explores the fascinating interaction between religion and ethnicity, regionalism and popular culture.
Reference Databases
These research databases contain full-text reference works.
Their content includes encyclopedias and specialized dictionaries but may also include journal articles and other sources.
General Reference
- Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia
For students and adults alike, the Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia database indexes over 25,000 records, covering an array of topics.
- Oxford English Dictionary Online
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words—past and present—from across the English-speaking world.
Legal & Business Information
- Legal Information Reference Center
In addition to 225 full-text journals, this database features full-text legal reference books from the organization Nolo.
- Small Business Reference Center
This databases contains over 450 reference books related to business.
English & Literature
- Gale Literature Resource Center
In addition to full-text short stories, plays, poems, and articles on literature, the Gale Literature Resource Center offers access to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Merriam-Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature.
- Poetry & Short Story Reference Center
In addition to full-text stories and poems as well as critical essays, this database contains articles from reference works on poetry and literature.
Health & Psychology
- Consumer Health Reference eBook Collection
This ebook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general health topics including cancer and diabetes; weight management and exercise; allergies; senior care; social–emotional health; developmental disorders; and natural health.
- Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print
Produced by the Buros Center for Testing at the University of Nebraska, the Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY) provides users with a comprehensive guide to thousands of contemporary testing instruments.
Home & Craft
- Hobbies & Crafts Reference Center
Intended for public libraries, this database dedicated to home improvement and repair includes full-text reference works.
- Home Improvement Reference Center
Intended for public libraries, this database dedicated to home improvement and repair includes full-text reference works.
Schools & Public Libraries
- MAS Complete
Although designed for high schools, MAS Complete includes the contents of 440 full-text reference books that may be useful for beginning research or quick overviews of subjects.
- MAS Reference eBook Collection
This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for high-school students.
- MasterFILE Complete
Designed for public libraries, MasterFILE Premier includes the full text of 500 reference books that may be useful for general information or beginning research.
- MasterFILE Reference eBook Collection
This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects.
- Middle Search Reference eBook Collection
This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for middle-school students. Topics include social studies, math, history, language arts, technology, geography, culture, and science.
- Primary Search Reference eBook Collection
This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects for primary-school students. Topics include social studies, history, language arts, geography, culture, math, and science.