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How to Do Library Research

This set of pages has information on how to do library research. In all cases, once you have located sources, be sure to evaluate them, using the evaluation guides.

Subject Encyclopedias

The following is a selected list of subject encyclopedias owned by Colorado State University. Many large subjects have their own specialized encyclopedias. Most of these will have signed articles on specific topics--and a bibliography (a list of recommended sources). You can also locate other subject encyclopedias in the online catalog.

Policy topic encyclopedias (social work, marriage, sociology, politics, drugs and alcohol, families)

  • The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms and Weapons U 815 .E 5313 1982 Reference
  • Contemporary Artists N 6490 .C6567 1996 Reference
  • The Cowboy Encyclopedia E 20 .S56 1994 Reference
  • Dictionary of American History 7 + 1 vols. E 174 .A43 1976 Reference
  • Dictionary of the Middle Ages 13 vols. D 114 .D5 1982 Reference
  • Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History 5 vols. E 185 .E54 1996 Reference.
  • Encyclopedia of Bioethics 5 vols. QH 332 .E52 Reference
  • Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (Kirk-Othmer) 24+ vols. TP 9 .E685 Reference
  • Encyclopedia of Energy, Technology, and the Environment 4 vols. TJ 163.235 .E53 1995 Reference
  • Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Technology 4 vols. TP 368.2 .E62 1992 Reference
  • Encyclopedia of Photography TR 9 .I24 1984 Reference
  • Encyclopedia of Religion 16 vols. BL 31 .E46 1987 Reference
  • Encyclopedia of Sociology 4 vols. HM 17 .E5 1992 Reference
  • Encyclopedia of World Cultures 10 vols. GN 307 .E53 1991 Reference
    • Volumes entitled: North America, Oceania, South Asia, Europe, East and Southeast Asia, Russia and Eurasia/China, South American, Middle East, Index
  • Historic World Leaders 5 vols. D 412 .H57 Reference
    • Volumes entitled: Africa, Middle East, Asia, Pacific; Europe A-Z; Europe L-Z, North & South America A-L; North and South America M-Z
  • International Encyclopedia of Communications 4 vols. P 87.5 .I5 1989 Reference
  • The International Encyclopedia of Higher Education 4 vols. LB 15 .E 49 1992 Reference
  • Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects 4 vols. NA 40 .M25 1982 Reference
  • McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology 20 vols. Q 121 .M 3 1992 Reference
  • New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians 20 vols. ML 100 .N48 Reference

Find a compilation of subject encyclopedias online in the Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) (CSU affiliates only).

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