Reference sources help you start your research by providing background information. They give overviews of topics, concepts, and people; summarize current issues and controversies; provide statistics and country data; and offer definitions, synonyms, and etymologies for unfamiliar words.  

Encyclopedias

Requires login off campus Credo Reference
Requires login off campus Oxford Reference Online
Requires login off campus Encyclopedia Britannica
Requires login off campus Oxford Art Online
Requires login off campus Oxford Music Online
Requires login off campus Sage Knowledge

Research Reports

Requires login off campus CQ Researcher plus Archive
Requires login off campus Biography Reference Center
Requires login off campus Issues & Controversies

Statistics & Country Information

Census Data
Requires login off campus Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
United Nations Data

Popular Dictionaries

Requires login off campus American Heritage Roget's Thesaurus
Requires login off campus Collins English Dictionary
Requires login off campus Oxford English Dictionary