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Starting Points

Background and Overview

General and specialized encyclopedias will give you a background and overview on your topic. This is helpful to get focused, have a better understanding of your topic and to get familiar with related concepts and terminology. Once you get familiar with your topic, it is easier to develop search strategies in the online databases and on the Web. Consult the following links or look for specialized encyclopedias on the Web or in the Reference section of the library. Most of the Reference Books at the Library are NOT available online.

• Britannica.com [ Websites, leading magazines articles, related books, and the complete Encyclopędia Britannica]
• Columbia Encyclopedia
• Infoplease.com [Access to almanacs. For facts and concise information]
• Merriam-Webster Online
• Virtual Reference Shelf [compiled by the Library of Congress; all kinds of reference sources]

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Last Updated: July 2008

Created and maintained by Sahyly Martinez

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