Reference works such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and almanacs can provide you with background information or an overview of your topic. These reference works are available in the Reference section of the LMC.

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias are comprehensive, authoritative works containing articles on a wide range of subjects. The most familiar type of encyclopedia is one that covers all areas of general knowledge (examples: World Book Encyclopedia or Encyclopedia Britannica). Other encyclopedias cover specific areas or disciplines (example: Encyclopedia of American History).

In addition to the print encyclopedias in the library's reference area, there are a number of general knowledge encyclopedias available online through the World Wide Web. For example:

• Encyclopedia Britannica Online (Infohio subscription)
  (Note: This link to Encyclopedia Britannica will only work if you are connecting through the computer network of an Ohio public or non-public school, Ohio public library, or other organization that maintains a subscription to this service. If you are not, please try Britannica's free site, listed below.)
  
• Britannica Online (free web site)
  Contains full-text of the Encyclopedia Britannica, plus Britannica's selection of web sites, selected articles from popular magazines, and a version of Books in Print.
• Columbia Encyclopedia: Sixth Edition
  Online version of the current (year 2000) edition of the Columbia Encyclopedia, a one volume, short-entry encyclopedia with over 50,000 entries.
• Compton's Encyclopedia Online
  More than 37,000 articles - the complete text of Compton's Encyclopedia.
• Funk and Wagnall's Encyclopedia
  Complete Funk & Wagnalls unabridged 29-volume encyclopedia.

Dictionaries

Whenever you are researching an unfamiliar topic, you may encounter words or concepts with which you are not familiar. Try a dictionary for a quick knowledge fix.

In addition to the print dictionaries located in the library's reference area, there are many online dictionaries. For example:

• American HeritageŽ Dictionary, Third Edition (Unabridged)
• Encarta World English Dictionary
• Merriam-Webster's College Dictionary

• Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, 3rd ed.
  
• Roget's Thesaurus
• Rhyming Dictionary

Almanacs

Almanacs are annual publications offering lists, charts, and tables of information on various topics. They may be general or focus on a particular subject (such as politics or sports).

Check the library's online catalog and/or the reference area for print almanacs. Here are a few representative examples of online almanacs:

• Information Please Almanac
  Online version of the popular almanac which you can browse by topic or search.
• Global Statistics
• The 50 States of the United States
• The Almanac of Politics and Government
• Baseball Almanac

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