Subject encyclopedias, handbooks and overviews are scholarly, tertiary works written by experts on a variety of topics. An hour spent with one or more subject encyclopedias early on in the research process will save you hours of wasted time! Articles in subject encyclopedias are written by scholars who have deep specialization in the topic and the articles themselves go through a stringent editing process.
Here's what subject encyclopedias provide:
In Collins Library, the print reference collection is located on the first floor, and most of the online reference collection is available in one of the database collections listed below. Use Primo to identify subject encyclopedias in either format; or ask a librarian for recommendations.
The subject encyclopedias listed here are good starting points, but you also should explore the entries in the online collections.
Select a few keywords or ideas related to your topic to explore using the subject encyclopedias and the online collections featured on this page. Consult at least 2 different encyclopedias for information about your topic and reflect on the following questions: