Use reference materials to find background information. Reference books can help you:
Need some more background information about that new concept you learned in class today? Writing a paper on a topic that's new to you? Not sure what topic to choose for your paper? Answer yes to any of these questions, and a subject-specific encyclopedia is the thing for you.
Library encyclopedias and handbooks aren't searchable or freely available on the web, but you can still access many of them online by logging in with your Goodwin ID. ..and feel confident using them as a bona-fide scholarly resource that is written by an expert in the field and reviewed for accuracy!
Wikipedia is a common starting point for many people researching a new topic, but unlike scholarly subject-specific encyclopedias, most professors will not allow you to cite Wikipedia in your bibliography.
Reference Databases:
Now offering more than 800 highly regarded reference titles from over 80 publishers, Credo Reference covers every major subject and also provides Topic Pages as a starting point for researchers.
Search and view more than 250,000 eBooks in this large selection of multidisciplinary eBook titles representing a broad range of academic subject matter. The breadth of information available through this collection ensures that users will have access to information relevant to their research needs.