This guide will help you get started on your research projects as well as help you identify, locate, and evaluate resources for your research.
Your Guide to Reference Resources
What are reference works?
Reference materials are usually books in which you look up information. Some examples are dictionaries, encyclopedias, and atlases. These types of resources typically do not require cover to cover reading, rather they are usually consulted periodically for specific, authoritative information.
Reference materials are tertiary sources, meaning they hold compiled information collected from other materials, such as primary and secondary materials, and they rarely contain original content.
Since many people need to use them often, they do not circulate in our library. However, our SOAR Catalog and many databases provide reference materials online.
5 Reasons to Use Reference Sources
