Guides: English, American, and World Literature: Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Finding Reference Materials

Reference materials, such as encyclopedia and dictionary entries, are helpful when you need a broad overview or basic facts about something. They won't replace a primary or secondary source in your paper, but many contain bibliographies that may lead you to other sources. The following databases are useful for locating reference material about literature and other topics.

Reference Databases

Credo Reference
A starting point for research and learning that offers unlimited access to hundreds of full text reference books on every subject. Includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and books of quotations.
Oxford Reference Online
Contains over 100 dictionary, language reference, and subject reference works published by Oxford University Press. Also includes the Oxford Companions Series.
Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
Widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language, this descriptive dictionary traces the historical development of the language.
OneSearch
You can also find reference material in the library catalog. Reference books may be print or e-books. Print reference books are on the main floor of the library on the east side of the building.Copy and paste the following search to find literature encyclopedias at the duPont-Ball Library: kw:encyclopedia AND literature

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English, American, and World Literature

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Finding Reference Materials