Reference sources are great places to get started when researching a new topic. Specialized reference sources can be especially helpful for gathering background information on various topics in academic research.
Encyclopedias are great for providing brief overviews, while handbooks and companions provide more detailed information. In both types of reference works, the articles are authored by field experts. As well as getting to know your topic, these sources are also great ways to build search vocabulary that you can use when finding books, journal articles, and dissertations or theses.
Purdue Libraries subscribes to several large online reference collections that include specialized reference sources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, and companions.
