Encyclopedias, Dictionaries & Handbooks
Although the terms are often interchangeable, generally it is accepted understood that encyclopedias contain longer articles, while dictionaries contain short definitions only. To find background information on a research topic (as a first step in your search strategy), it's a good idea to consult a subject encyclopedia for brief factual information.

Good reliable online resources include:

• Britannica
• Grove's Dictionary of Art
• Oxford English Dictionary

Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that is increasingly consulted. But there are issues about credibility of which you should be aware.

There are specialized reference tools available for any subject you might wish to investigate. A subject encyclopedia differs from a general encyclopedia (such as Encyclopedia Britannica) in that it focuses on the particular subject. Subject encyclopedias can cover a topic in more detail than a general encyclopedia and often provide a good bibliography at the end of an article. Start with the index volume of the encyclopedia to confirm all places where your subject may be found. To locate a specialized encyclopedia, do a keyword search in the OPAC (library catalog). Enter the term "encyclopedia" and the term for the broad topic (e.g. "encyclopedia and art").

Examples of Subject Encyclopedias:

	The Dictionary of Graphic Images	Ref. BF 458
	The Encyclopedia of Ethics	Ref. BJ 63
	The Dictionary of World Myth	Ref. BL 303
	Handbook of American Popular Culture	Ref. E 169.1
	A Companion to American Thought	Ref. E 169.1
	American Decades	Ref. E 169.12
	Encyclopedia of Bad Taste	E 169.12
	Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America	Ref. E 184
	Dictionary of Race and Ethnic Relations	Ref. GN 496
	Folklore: Encyclopedia of Beliefs, Customs, Tales, Music, & Art	Ref. GR 35
	Social Science Encyclopedia	Ref. H 41
	Encyclopedia of Social History	Ref. HN 28
	Encyclopedia of Homosexuality	Ref. HQ 76.25
	Growing Up: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia	HQ 767.84
	Women's Studies Encyclopedia	Ref. HQ 1115
	Dictionary of Art	Ref. N 31 D5
	The Green Encyclopedia	Ref. QH 540.4
	St. James Fashion Encyclopedia	TT 505
	The Encyclopedia of Censorship	Ref. Z 657
	Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy	online-free web

Biographical Sources (Dictionaries & Directories) 
When looking for basic facts about people, a biographical dictionary is a good place to start. You will find information such as date of birth, citations to articles, place of employment, addresses, etc. Biographical reference tools may be general or completely oriented towards a specific field. A few art and design-related biographical sources you may want to consult are: 

	Contemporary Artists	Ref. N 40
	Who's Who in American Art	Ref. N 40
	Contemporary Designers	Ref. N 40
	Who's Who in Graphic Design	Ref. N 45
	Contemporary Architects	Ref. NA 49
	Encyclopedia of 20th Century American Folk Art & Artists	Ref. NK 808
	Cinematographers, Production Designers, Costume Designers and Film Editors	Ref. PN 1998
	Contemporary Photographers	Ref. TR139
	Contemporary Fashion	Ref. TT 505
	Who's Who in Fashion	Ref. TT 505