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Encyclopedias & Dictionaries: Searching in Multiple Encyclopedias or Dictionaries

How to find encyclopedias or dictionaries on specialized subjects

Tips for Searching

  • Good starting places include Gale eBooks and Salem Press Online, which include many specialized encyclopedias and dictionaries
  • You can search for a topic and find all the articles that pertain to it
  • Different encyclopedias will have varying treatments depending on the overall subject of the specialized encyclopedia

For example, if you look up a topic like Marriage in Gale eBooks, you will find articles from the points of view of history, religion, law, rural life, and many more.

Databases for Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

  • Gale eBooks
    Subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other ebooks on a wide variety of topics. Useful for background information and topic exploration.
  • Gale Virtual Reference Library
    GVRL is now Gale eBooks.
  • Oxford English Dictionary
    The most complete historical dictionary of the English language. It includes the etymology or origin and historical use of words.
  • Salem Press Online
    Reference books on topics related to mythology/folklore, history, science, and health.