Why Use Refernce Books?

• Reference material is a great place to find background information
  
• Shows how a topic fits into a broader subject or discipline
• Helps you to know if there is enough or too much information on a topic
• Provides access to the specific vocabulary which serves as keywords for searching
• Often contains bibliographies which point to key resources and experts to consult

Cambridge Histories Online

Encyclopedia of Modern China, 4 vols., Ref.  DS755 .E53 2009