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Research Guides

  sample encyclopedia covers

Encyclopedias help you figure out the who, what & where of a topic. Knowing the who, what & where of a topic is the first step in researching a topic and discovering the "how" and "why". Encyclopedias can provide background information and can be used to identify key people, events and dates which can then be used as search terms for finding additional information. Many also provide a jumpstart on your research by listing related readings.​ Two online encyclopedia collections: Gale Ebooks & Oxford Reference Online.


More in-depth context

Many of these entries are from the Oxford Research Encyclopedias (ORE). ORE contains encyclopedias covering a variety of subjects including African, American, Asian, and Latin American history as well as public health and politics. Search ORE for terms such as AIDS, HIV, PEPFAR, and sexually transmitted diseases to find additional entries.