Research Guides: Background Information: Encyclopedia and Reference

Databases with Encyclopedias and Reference Information

Some of our library databases are also focused on providing background information.

Examples include:

Bloomsbury Fashion Central
Sprague Library only subscribes to the Berg Fashion Library content within Bloomsbury. This includes the Berg Encyclopedia of World Dress & Fashion, business case studies, eBooks, images & lesson plans.
CQ Researcher
Each weekly report explores a single "hot" issue in the news that covers all sides. Includes charts, graphs and bibliographies. Global Researcher includes monthly single-topic reports on vital world issues. Full text.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Reference e-books representing a variety of subject areas including anthropology, business, history, law, literature, medicine, and science. Full text.
Britannica Academic
Contains the text of the Encyclopaedia Britannica plus additional articles & images. Includes Britannica's World Data Analyst & World Atlas. Full text.
Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index
Covers journal articles, book reviews, and essays in books about women, sexuality, and gender during the Middle Ages.
Oxford Art Online
Access to subject entries, biographies, bibliographic citations, image links & images contained within Grove Art Online, as well as access to entries & images from the Oxford Companion to Western Art, the Concise Dictionary of Art Terms, and Oxford's Encyclopedia of Aesthetics.
Oxford Reference
Fully-indexed, cross-searchable dictionary, language reference, and subject reference works published by Oxford University Press. Full text.

More Background Databases
Here are more databases you can search for background information. Make sure to read the description before searching to make sure it's appropriate for your topic.

Some databases, like Oxford Art Online and Bloomberg Fashion Central allow you to search by time period. In Oxford Art Online, use the "Era" tab and in Bloomberg Fashion go to the "Browse by" and choose Period.