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University Library DePaul Library

Encyclopedias

Directories & Ratings

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Why Use Encyclopedias?

Background sources will help you:    

  • Learn important dates and events around your topic
  • Browse a chronology or timeline for your topic
  • Discover what scholars are talking about when they talk about your topic
  • Find out who the experts are: who researches and writes about your topic
  • Explore keywords and subject-specific vocabulary that can be used for database searches
  • Find bibliographies that lead to additional resources