Information Literacy Tutorial: Step 2 -- Locate Basic Information On Your Topic

Locate Basic Information:
Try the Reference Collection

The best place to locate basic information on your topic is the reference collection, located on the first floor of the Evelyn S. Field Library. Reference books do not go out of the library and include dictionaries, almanacs, handbooks, directories, atlases, books of quotations and general or specialized encyclopedias.

There are several reasons why a reference book, especially an encyclopedia, is a good place to begin research:

A reference book gives you a brief overview of your topic. Within a few paragraphs or pages, you have a summary of your topic.
A reference book will help to familiarize you with your topic. In a few paragaphs you will be introduced to the vocabulary, significant people, chronology of events and main points related to your topic. This will help you when you proceed with your research into more detailed sources.
A reference book may break your topic into smaller topics. This could give you some ideas on how to narrow your topic into a more manageable one.
A reference book will let you know what research is available on a topic. If your topic is covered in a reference book, there is a very good chance you'll be able to find more information about it, in either books or articles or both. It's better to start with a topic that you know you'll be able to research well.
A reference book will often include a short bibliography or list of other books and articles you might consult on your topic. Since encyclopedia and dictionary entries are often written by subject specialists, the books or articles that they recommend are often the best available on your topic.

Try one of the reference sources below to introduce you to your research topic

Broad Topic or Subject	Suggested Reference Materials
General Encyclopedias	Britannica Online (RVCC Network Login required) Encyclopedia Americana, Ref AE5 .E333 2000 New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Ref AE5 .E363 1998
Art	Dictionary of Art, Ref N31 .D5 1996 Encyclopedia of World Art, Ref N31 .E4833
Biology	Gray's Anatomy-- 1918 edition
Biography	Encyclopedia of World Biography, Ref CT103 .E56 1998 Current Biography, Ref CT100 .C8
Careers	Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance, HF5381 .E52 2003 Occupational Outlook Handbook, Ref HF5381 .E52 2000
Computers	Encyclopedia of Computer Science, Ref QZ76.15 .E48 2000 Encyclopedia of Computers and Computer History, Ref QA76.15 .E53 2001
Criminal Justice	Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment, Ref HV6017.E524 2002 Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, Ref HV6017 E52 1983.
Current Events	CQ Researcher (RVCC Network Login required)
Education	International Encyclopedia of Education, Ref LB15 .I569 1985 Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Ref LB15 .E48 1992
Film/Theatre	Magill's Cinema Annual, Ref PN1993.45 .M33 Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, Ref PN2012 .W51 The Cambridge History of American Theatre, Ref PN2221 .C37 1998
Geography	Background Notes Countries of the World, Ref G122 .C67 2002 Country Studies Perry-Castenada Library Map Collection Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Ref G63 .W67 2001
History	Cambridge Ancient History, Ref D57 .C25 Dictionary of the Middle Ages, Ref D114 .D5 1982 New Cambridge Modern History, Ref D208 .N4 Dictionary of American History, Ref E174 .D52 1976 Chronology of U.S. Historical Documents
Law	American Jurisprudence 2d, Ref KF154 .A42 West's Encyclopedia of American Law, Ref KF154 .W47 2005 Encyclopedia of the American Judicial System, Ref KF154 .E53 1987 Selected Historic Decisions of the US Supreme Court
Literature	Literature Resource Center (RVCC Network Login required) Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century, Ref PN774 .L433 Oxford Companion to English literature, Ref PR19 .O94 2000 Oxford Companion to American Literature, Ref PS21 .H3 1995 European Writers, Ref PN501 .E9 Latin American Writers, Ref PQ7081 .A1 L37 1989 African Writers, Ref PL8010 .A453 1997
Medicine	Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Ref RC41 .G35 1999 Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy-- 17th edition MEDLINEplus Dictionary
Music	New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Ref ML100 N48 1980 Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Ref ML102 .P66 G84 1995
Nutrition	Foods and Nutrition Encyclopedia, Ref TX349 .F575 1994 Cambridge World History of Food, Ref TX353 .C255 2000
Philosophy	Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Ref B41 .E5 Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics, Ref BJ63 .E44 1998 Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Political Science	U.S. Government Manual
Psychology	Encyclopedia of Psychology, Ref BF31 .E52 1994
Religion	Encyclopedia of Religion, Ref BL31 .E46
Science	Access Science (RVCC Network Login required) McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, Ref Q121 .M3 1997 Macmillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry, Ref QD4 .M33 1997 CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Ref QD65 .H3 1998 Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Ref QH332 .E52 1995 Grzmek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, Ref QL3 G7813
Social Science	International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Ref H40 A2 I5 Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family, Ref HQ9 .E52 1995 Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol and Addictive Behavior, Ref HV5804 .E53 2001
Sports	Encyclopedia of World Sport, Ref GV567 .E56 1996
Statistics	Statistical Abstract of the United States

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Raritan Valley Community College / Evelyn S. Field Library

Locate Basic Information: Try the Reference Collection

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Locate Basic Information:
Try the Reference Collection