Why Use Reference Books?

• Reference material is a great place to find background information
  
• Shows how a topic fits into a broader subject or discipline
• Provides access to the specific vocabulary which serves as keywords for searching
• Often contain bibliographies which point to key resources and experts to consult

Examples of the types of Reference Books you can find include:

Oxford Art Online
includes the Grove Dictionary of Art

Encyclopedia of Religion (Gale Virtual Reference Library)

Material culture in America: understanding everyday life. Ref.  GN560.U6 M37 2008

American decades , 11 vols., Ref. E169.12 .A419 1994

Jews and American popular culture, 3 vols., Ref. E 184.35 .J5 2007    

Art and architecture of the world's religions,  2 vols., Ref.  N7790 .R67 2009   

Encyclopedia of women in religious art, Ref.  N7793 .W65 A66 1966