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
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 in the Winona Library
CREDO Online Reference
CREDO provides online access to 650+ full text eBooks including encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, and much more. Searches can be expanded to include articles in SMU databases for more in depth coverage.
Stanford Online Encyclopedia
An excellent open-access reference source created by contributions from libraries and philosophy departments all over the world. Features in depth articles with extensive bibliographies.
Online-full text access
Other Online Reference Sources
Access to over 420,000 primary source documents, complete books, and authentic images.