Locating the Right Reference Tools: Encyclopedias

Locating the Right Reference Tools: Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias cover many topics and are an excellent place to gather background information.

An encyclopedia can be one book, but is usually a set of books. Each book is called a volume. Encyclopedias tell about important people, places, and things. An encyclopedia will cover a little bit about every topic. It will probably have photographs and drawings, and often has charts and maps.

Encyclopedias are generally reliable sources for information because they have been edited by experts in various fields.

You Might Find in Your Library:

General encyclopedias contain information about a variety of topics.

Specialized encyclopedias are about a specific topic. For example, there can be an encyclopedia about only animals, or only about U.S. history.