Information Resources for Information Professionals

Background Sources: Encyclopedias and Handbooks

Compiled by:
Joe Ryan

See also the Factbook section for quick facts.

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Note: A B after an encyclopedia title indicates that its entries include a bibliograpy.

Table of Contents

  • General Encylopedias
  • Guides to Encyclopedias
  • Art
  • Animals
  • Business
  • Health Sciences
  • History
  • Humanities
  • For Information Professionals
  • Law
  • Literature
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Plants and Gardening
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Social Science
  • Wine
  • Additional Topics

    General Encyclopedias

    A-to-Z encyclopedia. Discovery Channel School & World Book Online.

    Canadian encyclopedia online.

    Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (Latest). World factbook.

    Columbia encyclopedia, (Sixth Edition). (1996)Columbia encyclopedia, (Fifth Edition). (1994). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. B

    Compton's encyclopedia online or duplicate site. B

    Davis, Clif and Fincannon, Margaret Adamson. Free Internet encyclopedia.

    Diderot's encyclopedia Volume 1 only.

    Davis, Clif and Fincannon, Margaret Adamson. Free Internet encyclopedia.

    Encyclopedia Smithsonean, B.

    Encyclopedia.com. Concise Columbia electronic encyclopedia (third edition).

    Must pay to access bibliograpy of articles from Electric library.

    Encyclopedia Britannica. B, Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 edition For an interesting article on changes at EB, and to encylopedias in the digital age see: Pang, Alex Soojung-Kim. (1998). The work of the encyclopedia in the age of electronic reproduction. First Monday

    Eyewitness encyclopedia.

    Funk and Wagnells encyclopedia.

    Requires a "free membership" to use.

    Hutchinson encyclopedia.

    Requires you to either register or subscribe to the service.

    Microsoft. Encarta encyclopedia.

    Must pay to access bibliograpy of articles from Electric Library.

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    Guides

    Baum, S. Online dictionaries, glossaries and encyclopedias - 101.

    Annual Reviews includes Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. B

    Physical Sciences include: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Energy and the Environment, Fluid Mechanics, Materials Science, Nuclear and Particle Science, Physical Chemistry.

    Social Sciences include: Anthropology, Energy and the Environment, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology. If there is a problem obtaining the full text try JSTOR

    Netscape. Encyclopedia search.

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    Animals

    Encyclopedia of feline veterinary medical information.

    Lycos encyclopedia of animals.

    Regulatory fish encyclopedia.

    Richards, Michael. Encyclopedia of canine veterinary medical information.

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    Art

    Artcyclopedia: The guide to museum-quality art on the Internet.

    Mostly links to pics, light on the text.

    Comic art encyclopedia.

    Encyclopedia of Western signs and ideograms.

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    #Business

    Mathiesen, Henrik. Encyclopedia of corporate governance. B

    U.S. industrial outlook. (1994).

    Most recent issues, now called U.S. Industrial and Trade Outlook not available on the Internet (as od 1/00).

    US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 10K Wizard.

    University of Ghent, Netherlands. Encyclopedia of law & economics. B

    Wired Magazine. Encyclopedia of the new economy.

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    Health Sciences

    Annual Reviews includes Biomedical Sciences B. If there is a problem obtaining the full text try JSTOR

    DrKoop.com. Medical encyclopedia.

    Encyclopedia of natural health. B

    Herbal encyclopedia.

    KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.

    Natural remedies encyclopedia.

    RealAge Research Library. Medical Encyclopedia.

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    History

    Chastain, James. (Ed.). Encyclopedia of 1848 revolutions. B

    Encyclopedia of civil war artillery.

    Encyclopedia of Cleveland history. Case Western Reserve University andWestern Reserve Historical Society. B

    Encyclopedia Smithsonian: FAQs and guide to resources A - Z. B

    Hartshorne, Henry. (1881). Household cyclopedia of general information.

    Mariboe, Knud. Encyclopedia of the Celts. B

    North Carolina encyclopedia.

    ORB Encyclopedia of medieval studies. B

    Spartacus Internet encyclopedia. Encyclopedia of British history 1700-1950: British history, Emancipation of women, First world war, Parliamentary reform, Railways:1780-1900, Religion and society, Slavery: 1750-1870, Textile industry, Trade union movement and also Investigating the Vietnam war, Medieval world,USA 1840-1960. B

    Technology and 20th century change in warfare.

    Utah history encyclopedia.

    Weigel, Richard D. De Imperatoribus Romanis: An online encyclopedia of Roman emperors. B

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    Humanities

    Canadian theatre encyclopedia. B

    Encyclopedia Smithsonian: FAQs and guide to resources A - Z. B

    Kroker, Arthur; Kroker, Marilouise and Cook, David. Panic encyclopedia: The definitive guide to thepostmodern scene.

    Mariboe, Knud. (1997). Encyclopedia of the Celts.

    Marmor, Paula Katherine. Legends. B

    Perseus encyclopedia. B

    University of Virginia. English Department. Dictionary of Sensibility. B

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    For Information Professionals

    Advances in librarianship (1991 to present). Table of Contents via BUBL. NY: Academic Press. For earlier editions: (1970 to present) see: Bird-5th floor Z674 .A4

    Advances in library administration and organization. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press. Bird-5th fl. Z678 .A33

    Advances in library automation and networking. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press. Bird-5th fl. Z678.9.A1 A34

    American Library Association Archives. Highlights from the Columbia University Library Science Library Vertical Files, 1832-1994.

    ALA Editions.

    ALA World encyclopedia of library and information services. (1993). Chicago: American Library Association. Bird-Reference, 1st floor Z1006 .W67 1993

    ALA yearbook of library and information science. Chicago: ALA. 1976 to present Bird-Reference, 1st floor Z673.A5 Y4

    American Society for Information Science (ASIS). Annual review of information science and technology (ARIST). White Plains, NY: Knowledge Industry Publications. 1966 to present Bird-Reference and 5th floor Z699.A1 A65 or 1993-1997 Table of contents from ASIS

    American Society for Information Science. Proceedings of the ASIS annual meeting (and Mid-Year Meeting). White Plains, NY: Knowledge Industry Publications. Bird-5th floor Z699 .A1 A61

    AntiVirus Research Center. Online virus and hoax encyclopedia.

    Baccala, Brent. Connected: An Internet encyclopedia.

    Baum, Steven K. Linux software encyclopedia. B

    The Bowker annual of library and book trade information. NY: R.R. Bowker. 1961 to present Bird-Ready Ref. and Bird-5th floor Z731 .A47

    Among other useful data this source includes placements and salaries of graduates from MLS programs in the USA.

    Communication Institute for Online Scholarship (CIOS). CIOS/ McLuhan Website Project.

    Introduction to communication studies through the work of Marshall McLuhan.

    Eberhart, George. (Editor). (1995). The Whole Library Handbook 2. Chicago: ALA.

    Educational Media and Technology Yearbook. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited. Bird-4th floor LB1028.3 .E371

    Encyclopedia of library and information science. (1968-). New York, M. Dekker.Bird-Reference, 1st floor Z1006 .E57 OR Bird-5th floor Z1006 .E57

    Handbook for library management series. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio.

    History of the Internet (timeline).

    Intellectual freedom manual, (4th ed.). Chicago: ALA. Bird-5th floor Z711.4 .I57 1992

    International Yearbook of Educational and Instructional Technology. New York, Nichols Pub. Bird-4th floor LB1028.7 .Y4

    Jones Telecommunications and Multimedia Encyclopedia and updates.

    Library lit: The best of 19__. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow. 1969 to present Bird-5th floor Z665 .L587

    Library science annual. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. 1985 to present Bird-5th floor Z666 .L45

    MIT Encyclopedia of Cognitive Sciences (MITECS). Note: Requires registration, cookies.

    School library media annual. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. Bird-5th floor Z675.S3 S291158

    Suler, John. (1996 to present). Psychology of cyberspace.

    TechEncyclopedia.

    University of Tennessee, Martin, and Cochran Communications. Media Awareness Network: Statistics.

    University of Twente. Department of Computer Science. Information Systems section. Method Engineering Encyclopaedia

    Wired Magazine. Encyclopedia of the New Economy.

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    Law

    Legal encyclopedia and law dictionary.

    Nolo's Legal Encyclopedia.

    University of Ghent, Netherlands. Encyclopedia of law & economics. B

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    Literature

    Anne of Green Gables encyclopedia.

    Cambridge history of English and American literature. (1907-1921). B

    Encyclopedia of Middle Earth.

    Lindsay, Maurice. Burns encyclopedia. Sponsored by Burns country.

    Ruffini, Nino. (Editor). Encyclopedia Frobozzica.

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    Mathematics

    Encyclopedia of mathematics.

    Petit, Stéphanie . Encyclopedia of combinatorial structures. B

    Sloan's online encyclopedia of integer sequences. B

    Weisstein, Eric. Concise encyclopedia of mathematics. B.

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    Medicine See Health Sciences

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    Music

    Encyclopedia of Canadian rock, pop and folk music.

    Encyclopedia of progressive rock.

    Encyclopedia of the blues.

    Gilbralter encyclopedia of progressive rock.

    Music encyclopedia.

    Musical instrument encyclopedia.

    Jackson, Roland. (Editor). Performance practice encyclopedia.

    National Library of Canada. Encyclopedia of music in Canada (2nd ed.). (1992).

    Planet, Janet. African music encyclopedia.

    University of Michigan. School of Information. Cultural Heritage Information and Community Outreach. Music heritage network instrument encyclopedia. (1994). B

    University of Michigan. Stearns [musical instrument] Collection. Instrument encyclopedia.

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    Philosophy

    Allen, Colin and Hand, Michael. (1992-1997). Logic Primer.

    Fieser, James and Dowden, Bradley. Internet encyclopedia of philosophy. B

    Jones, Roger. Philosophy Since the Enlightenment[frames] or No frames.

    Kemerling, Garth.A dictionary of philosophical terms and names. B

    Peters, Michael A. & Ghiraldelli, Paulo Jr. Encyclopedia of philosophy of education. B

    Zalta, Edward N. Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. B

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    Plants and Gardening

    Burpee. Botany encyclopedia of plants and botanical dictionary.

    Herbal encyclopedia.

    Metropolitan plant encyclopedia. B

    SierraHome. Plant Encyclopedia.

    Time-Life. Virtual garden electronic encyclopedia or text only entrance.

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    Religion

    Bulfinch's mythology. B

    Canadian Mennonite encyclopedia online. B

    Ecole Initiative. Early church on-line encyclopedia (Ecole).

    Knight, Kevin. Catholic encyclopedia or alternate site (1913). B

    Mariboe, Knud. (1997). Encyclopedia of the Celts.

    Marmor, Paula Katherine. Legends.

    Lindemans, Micha F. (Ed.). Encyclopedia mythica. [Frames]

    Shi'ite encyclopedia.

    Voodoo encyclopedia.

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    Science

    Annual Reviews includes Physical Sciences. B

    Physical Sciences include: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Energy and the Environment, Fluid Mechanics, Materials Science, Nuclear and Particle Science, Physical Chemistry. If there is a problem obtaining the full text try JSTOR

    Bloomfield, Louis A. How things work: The physics of everyday life.

    Chemistry encyclopedia.

    [UK] Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Atmosphere, Climate & Environment Information Programme. Encyclopedia of the atmospheric environment.

    Encyclopedia of Analytical Instrumentation.

    Encyclopedia Smithsonian: FAQs and guide to resources A - Z. B

    Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia.

    Irwin, Roy J. Environmental contaminants encyclopedia [.pdf]. National Park Service. B

    Physics encyclopedia.

    Schneide, Jean. Extrasolar planets encyclopaedia.

    Storm encyclopedia.

    Verhoeff, Tom. Encyclopedia of delay-insensitive systems (EDIS).

    Wade, Mark. Encyclopedia astronautica. B

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    Social Science

    Alabama State University, Jacksonville. Department of Psychology. Encyclopedia of psychology. B

    Annual Reviews includes Social Sciences. B

    Social Sciences include: Anthropology, Energy and the Environment, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology. If there is a problem obtaining the full text try JSTOR.

    Bernard, Kara Tobin and Bernard, Shane K. Encyclopedia of Cajun culture. B

    Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (Latest). World Factbook.

    E-conflict world encyclopedia.

    Encyclopedia of Mesoamerica.

    Encyclopedia of Trotskyism on-line (ETOL) . B

    Encyclopedia Smithsonian: FAQs and guide to resources A - Z. B

    Kjeilen, Tore. (Editor). Encyclopedia of the Orient.

    Includes cultures of North Africa and the Middle East.

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    Wine

    Robinson, Jancis. (1999). Oxford companion to wine. B

    World Wine Encyclopedia.

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    Additional Topics

    AUTOPEDIA - The automotive encyclopedia.

    Better Homes and Gardens. Home improvement encyclopedia.

    Encyclopedia of American silver marks.

    Glass encyclopedia.

    New England Skeptical Society. Encyclopedia of skepticism and the paranormal.

    Powell, Jack and Jones, Donald E. II.AFRO-American Almanac.

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