Encyclopedias are often the best place to begin your research. The Johnnie Mae Berry Library has a variety of encyclopedias available both online and in traditional book format.

General encyclopedias contain articles that provide good background summariies for all kinds of different topics.

Encyclopedia Britannica is one of the world's most respected encyclopedias.  It is available online to current students, faculty and staff, and a recent set of the Encyclopedia Britannica in book form can be found in the Library's Reference Section:  Ref 031 N532. 

Columbia Encyclopedia and Funk and Wagnall’s Encyclopedia are also available online.

Other print encyclopedias are:

Encyclopedia Americana  (Ref 031 E56a)
World Book Encyclopedia  (Ref 031 W927w)

Wikipedia.com is a free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.  It can be a good source of information, but keep in mind that anyone can edit it, whereas most encyclopedias are written by specially chosen experts.

Specialized encyclopedias don't attempt to provide all of the world's knowledge, but choose a particular subject and address it in more detail.  The Johnnie Mae Berry Library provides access to a large group of encyclopedias on a wide variety of topics through the  Electronic Reference Books (OhioLINK).  Off-campus access is available to current students, faculty and staff.  have your SURGE Card at hand; you will need the barcode number prnted on the back of it.

The Johnnie Mae Berry Library has many specialized encyclopedias.  Just a few of them are listed here.

Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology (Ref 004.03 E56i 2005)
Encyclopedia of Psychology (Ref 150.3 E55 1994)
Encyclopedia of Human Emotions  (Ref 152.403 E56 1999)
Encyclopedia of Creativity  (Ref 153.35 E56 1999)
Encyclopedia of Bioethics (Ref 174.2 E56 2004)
Encyclopedia of Religion (Ref 200.3 E56 1993)
Encyclopedia of Sociology (Ref 301.03 E56 2000)
Images Encyclopedia  (Ref 302.2223 W513 1990)
Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural American  (Ref 305.8 G151 1000)
Encyclopedia of World Cultures (Ref 306.097 E53 1994)
Encyclopedia of Marriage and the Family  (Ref 306.803 E56 2003)
Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance (Ref 331.702 E56 2005)
Encyclopedia of Banking and Finance (Ref 332.03 M966)
Encyclopedia of American Industries  (Ref 338.097 E56 1998)
Gale Encyclopedia of Everyday Law  (Ref 349.73 G151 2003)
Encyclopedia of Public Health  (Ref 362.103 E56 2002)
Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice (Ref 364.03 E56 2002)
Encyclopedia of Education  (Ref 370.3 E56a 2003)
Encyclopedia of Food and Culture  (Ref 394.12 E56 2003)
Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology (Ref 503 E49 1992)
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (Ref 503 M167 1997), 
        also available online as Access Science 
Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia (Ref 503.21 V217 1995)
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Physics  (Ref 530.03 E56m 1996)
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry  (Ref 540. 3 E167 1997)
Encyclopedia of Microbiology  (Ref 579.03 E56 2000)
Encyclopedia of Family Health  (Ref 610.3 E56 2005)
ADAM Health Encyclopedia is available online through NetWellness.org)
Encyclopedia of Medical Devices and Instrumentation (Ref 610.3 F532 2006)
Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing & Allied Health  (Ref 610.7303 G151 2002)
Encyclopedia of Human Biology (Ref 612.003 E56)
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine  (Ref 615.5 G151 2005)
Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders  (Ref 616.042 G151 2005)
Encyclopedia of Consumer Brands  (Ref 658.8343 E56 1994)
Encyclopedia of Food Science, Food Technology and Nutrition (Ref 664 E55 1993)
Encyclopedia of Artists  (Ref 709.22 E56 2000)
Encyclopedia of Architecture (Ref 720.321 E56)
Encyclopedia of Popular Music  (Ref 781.6403 E56 1998)
Poetry for Students  (Ref 808.1 P745
Short Stories for Students  (Ref 809.31 S559)
Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction  (Ref 809.33 B365 1996)
World Geographical Encyclopedia  (Ref 910.3 E56 1995)
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture (Ref 973.9 S143 2000)

Updated August 2006