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What are Reference Sources?

Reference books (also called reference or background sources) offer quick specific facts or information or an overview of a subject. Some examples of reference sources are: dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, almanacs, directories, atlases, and handbooks. These can be online or in print.

Why Use Reference Sources?

Credible Reliable Sources:

  • Authoritative publishers
  • Articles are written by well respected scholars/experts in the field

Good Background Information:

  • Efficient method to identify key terms, dates, people, theories, definitions, associations

More Effective Database Searching:

  • Provide you with key words to more efficiently search for articles in databases

Bibliographies

  • Most reference articles provide bibliographies that can lead you to new sources in books and journals

Examples from the Winona Library