Types of Reference Books
Reference books are organized in ways that best present their subject matter. Here are a few general categories of reference books that you will find in our library:
Encyclopedias
An encyclopedia aims to offer a compact yet fact-filled overview of a wide range
of topics. In addition to the general sources such as Britannica and World Book,
there are dozens of specialized encyclopedias on topics ranging fromWorld War
II to Chinese history. Encyclopedias usually present a topic factually and without
bias or commentary.
Bibliographies
These reference books lead you to other sources. They cover a specialized topic
like a writer (Mark Twain), a historical or literary period (Elizabethan) or
a national literature (Irish, Middle Eastern). Sometimes bibliographies offer
annotations, short summaries of each listed source.
Reference Guides, Companions
Books with these words in their titles usually offer a highly specialized collection
of information. They may provide information on the work of a particular author,
an historical event, or a national culture at a certain time in history.
Dictionaries
A dictionary is known for its alphabetical listings and its focus on words and
terminology. The Oxford English Dictionary consists of 20volumes and offers
a history of how words have been used over time. There are dictionaries of slang,
new words, and foreign phrases. There is a dictionary of Middle Earth, for instance,
for those interested in the world of J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings
trilogy. There are dictionaries of coins, paintings, and psychology terms.
A reference book may not give you all the information you need on a given topic. It can, however, give you an overview. A reference source can supply useful facts, illustrations, or statistics that add depth or texture to your paper. Or it can provide a bibliography of additional sources for further study.
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