Encyclopedias
The library contains an extensive collection of online and print encyclopedias.
Click here to see a list of all the titles in our catalog. You can find most of these shelved in the reference area on the first floor.
Our online encyclopedias range from general to discipline specific. Click on the following category to be take to a list of encyclopedias for that subject area.
General
- Britannica Academic This link opens in a new windowUse to find general knowledge and background information on all major subjects. A great place to learn general and accurate information about a topic. Contains encyclopedia articles, images, video, sound files and primary source materials. Sourced from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and the Britannica Book of the Year.
- Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new windowOnline library of reference titles for multi-disciplinary research, including texts related to American and world history, biography, health, arts, business, travel, religion, and multicultural studies.
Science / Healthcare
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics This link opens in a new windowInteractive comprehensive scientific resource, containing over 700 interactive tables in over 450 documents.
- Merck Manual. Consumer Edition This link opens in a new windowProvides clear, concise medical information to patients, caregivers and families.
- Merck Manual. Professional Version This link opens in a new windowUse to find comprehensive medical information covering thousands of topics in all fields of medicine. Contains browsable sections on medical topics, audiovisual resources, symptoms overviews, clinical calculators, conversion tables, drug tables, normal laboratory values, abbreviations, selected links to useful websites, etc.
- AccessScience This link opens in a new windowUse to find up-to-date science reference information. Contains full-text articles, textbooks, overviews of scientific concepts, brief biographies of scientists and recent research developments and news.
Arts
- Music Online. African American Music Reference This link opens in a new windowUse to find information and images on blues, jazz, spirituals, gospel, ragtime, civil rights songs, rhythm and blues, hip hop and rap and other forms of African American musical expression. Contains full-text from major reference works, personal narratives and oral interviews, manuscripts, song sheets, biographies, lyrics, discography data.
- Music Online. Classical Music Reference Library This link opens in a new windowUse to find definitions and biographical information covering Western classical music from the medieval period through today. Contains full-text musical and notational terms, score and lyric excerpts, images, biographical information on major composers and artists, music score and lyric excerpts, musical and notation terms, taken from essential reference sources, including Baker's Dictionary of Music; Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians; Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music and other titles.
- Music Online. Reference This link opens in a new windowBrings together a variety of essential music reference materials, spanning the entire history of Western classical music.
- Music Online. The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music This link opens in a new windowUse to find descriptions of different musical genres, practices, performances from around the world. Contains the full-text of the print encyclopedia, audio examples, musical illustrations, photographs, and drawings.
- Music Treasures Consortium (Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress) This link opens in a new windowOnline access to music manuscripts and print materials from 16th to 20th centuries, held at the world renowned music archives.
History / Religion
- Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World This link opens in a new windowCovers topics such as Islam's role in the modern world in context of the religion's history and development over the last 13 centuries. Contains thematic articles, biographies of key figures, definitions, illustrations, maps and more.
- Encyclopedia of Religion (2nd ed. 2005) This link opens in a new windowPresents a cross-cultural approach that emphasizes religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture.
- Encyclopedia of Science and ReligionA multidisciplinary approach that addresses all aspects of the dialogue between the sciences and the world's religions, reaching into the humanities as well as into the physical sciences and technology.
- New Catholic Encyclopedia (2nd ed. 2003) This link opens in a new windowArticles on theology, philosophy, history, literary figures, saints, musicians and much more.
Education
- Britannica School This link opens in a new windowAn encyclopedia for all grades (pre-K to 12) and all reading abilities. Includes: articles, images, videos, audio clips, primary sources, maps, research tools, and web sites.
- Encyclopedia of educational leadership and administrationPresents theories, research, terms, concepts, ideas, and histories on educational leadership and school administration.
Foreign Language
- Britannica Escolar This link opens in a new windowUse to find Spanish-language entries covering general knowledge and background information on all major subjects. A great place to learn general, accurate information about a topic for native Spanish speakers, bilingual students and students learning Spanish. Contains encyclopedia articles, images, video, sound files and primary source materials for primary and secondary students. Includes research, writing and presentation tips for students and educators.
Criminology
- Encyclopedia of Criminal Justice Ethics This link opens in a new windowExplores the scope of ethical decision making and behaviors within the spheres of criminal justice systems, including policing, corrections, courts, forensic science, and policy analysis and research.
Philosophy
- Internet Encyclopedia of PhilosophyProvides open access to detailed, scholarly, peer-reviewed information on key topics and philosophers in all areas of philosophy.
Journalism
- Encyclo : an Encyclopedia of the Future of News This link opens in a new windowNon-for-profit use of new and evolving technologies to facilitate communication instruction, research and criticism.
Ornithology
- Birds of the World This link opens in a new windowUse to find information about birds from Birds of North America, The Handbook of Birds of the World, Neotropical Birds, and Bird Families of the World. Contains species and family accounts, maps, illustrations, videos, audio recordings, bird observations and other tools from the Cornell Ornithological Lab.