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Specialized
encyclopedias and dictionaries should not be confused with general
sources like the Encyclopaedia Britannica. or Merriam-Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary. While you will find some useful information
covering the Vietnam War in Britannica Online, it may not have the depth
and detail that you need. The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War:
A Political, Social, and Military History, however, is a three
volume set with an easy to use index in the last volume.
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Specialized dictionaries and
encyclopedias are useful sources for locating and identifying background
information or for providing a detailed overview on a specific
topic.
Not sure you understand what your topic is all
about? A subject specific encyclopedia can be the
answer.
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Subject dictionaries can also
be excellent sources of terms and keywords to use when searching for
periodical articles in indexes and databases.
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Bibliographies,
references, and lists of "for further reading" can lead you to
recommended periodical articles, books and other resources.
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You will be surprised when you
discover the wide range of topics covered by specialized encyclopedias
and dictionaries!
Dictionaries
Consisting of entries on
concepts and other terms, specialized dictionaries provide brief
explanations of how particular terms are defined and applied in specific
fields of research. Below are examples of specialized dictionaries:
| The Cambridge Historical
Dictionary of Disease |
Reference RC 41 .C365 2003 |
| Dictionary of Artists' Models |
Reference N7574 .D53 2001 |
| The Dictionary of Imaginary
Places |
Reference GR 650 .M36 2000 |
| The Oxford Dictionary of Islam |
Reference BP 40 .O95 2003 |
| Dictionary of Photography and Digital
Imaging : The Essential Reference for the Modern
Photographer |
Reference TR9 .A53 2002 |
| Terminology of Communication
Disorders: Speech-language-hearing |
Reference RC 423 .N52
2004 |
Locating
Dictionaries with the Library Catalog
When locating
dictionaries in the Library Catalog, combine your topic with the term
"dictionaries." For example; if you need a dictionary on the French
language, select keyword search and enter french language
dictionaries. Likewise, for a dictionary of anthropology, enter
anthropology dictionaries. The Western Libraries catalog
treats the search terms as keywords rather than phrases.
Encyclopedias
While similar in purpose
to dictionaries, encyclopedias usually give more extensive treatment to
the entry, including discussing and listing key publications in a field of
study. Examples of Specialized Encyclopedias:
| Encyclopedia of
Ancient Deities |
Reference BL 473 .C7 2000 |
| Encyclopedia of
Creativity |
Reference BF 408 .E53 1999 |
| Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol
& Addictive Behavior |
Reference HV5804 .E53 2001 (4
volumes) |
| Encyclopedia of Electronic
Circuits. |
Reference TK 7867 .G66 (6
volumes) |
| Encyclopedia of Terrorism |
Reference HV6431 .C643
2002 |
| Historical Encyclopedia of
School Psychology |
Reference LB 1027.55 .H57 1996 |
| The Malcolm X
Encyclopedia |
Reference BP 223 .Z8 L573
2002 |
Locating Encyclopedias
with the Online Catalog
When locating
encyclopedias in the Library Catalog, combine your topic with
"encyclopedias." For example, select keyword search and enter
philosophy encyclopedias. For a biology encyclopedia, enter
biology encyclopedias.
Online Encyclopedias
and Dictionaries
If the encyclopedia or
dictionary you locate through the Catalog is available online you will be
able to enter the source through a "Online access"
link. For example: Nature Encyclopedia of Life
Sciences. To access a selection of general and specialized
encyclopedias and dictionaries view Online Encyclopedias
and Online Dictionaries.
Tips and Tricks:
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