Automation Robotics Engineering Technology Research Guide

The library subscribes to several online reference databases full of general and subject-specific reference sources (i.e. encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks).

What are reference resources?

Reference resources are typically encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, handbooks, and other general information sources covering the "basics" of a topic.  Reference resources can be general (i.e. Encyclopedia Britannica) or subject-specific (i.e. Encyclopedia of Social Issues).

Why use reference resources?

• Get research topic ideas
• Get ideas for narrowing your topic from broad to focused
• Very quickly acquaint yourself with ideas, people, issues and events associated with your topic
• Identify search terms to use for further library searching
• Define terms and jargon associated with your topic
• Identify key resources on your topic (many reference resources will include links to useful sources you can use in your essay)