LibGuides: Reference Shelf: Encyclopedias

Don't Forget the Research Guides

Many of the subject specific research guides created by the reference librarians will include encyclopedias that can be of help to you and your research. And of course you can always Ask a Librarian if you need any additional help.

Search the Library Catalog

We still have encyclopedias that may only be available in print. You can search for these and other online encyclopedias in our library catalog. Use the Advanced Search and combine your topic with the term encyclopedias. For example:
  encyclopedias and metals
  encyclopedias and architecture
  encyclopedias and psychology

Online General Encyclopedias

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Carnegie Mellon users only. Contains articles accompanied by colorful photographs, diagrams, maps, and flags. Comprehensive coverage on a variety of subjects including, arts, business, geography, history, literature, philosophy, politics, pop culture, science, sports, and more.
Columbia Encyclopedia
Carnegie Mellon users only. Provides authoritative factual information about our world in its many guises - physical, historical, geographical, political, scientific, religious, and cultural
Encyclopaedia Iranica
Dedicated to the study of Iranian civilization in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
General Encyclopedias (from Credo)
Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide
Carngie Mellon users only. Provides an authoritative insight into the worlds of science & technology, history, geography, politics, and the arts.
Macmillan Encyclopedia
Carngie Mellon users only. Over 26,000 entries cover the world spectrum of human knowledge, including science and technology, countries of the world, space, natural history, medicine, politics, sport, people, literature, art and history.
Philip's Encyclopedia 2008
Carnegie Mellon users only. An A-Z Encyclopedia of fully cross-referenced entries covering science and technology, the arts, history, geography, current affairs, religion, sports, and popular culture.
World News Digest
Carenige Mellon users only. Presents the full-text of the Facts on File World News Digest since 1940, plus a live newsfeed from Reuters® and thousands of in-depth features, images, charts, and primary documents. It is a permanent record of the essential facts of the news as reported in the major newspapers and news magazines of the U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia, and elsewhere in the world.

Online Subject Specific Encyclopedias

AccessScience This link opens in a new window
The McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology on the web, provides full access to articles, dictionary terms, and hundreds of research updates in all areas of science and technology.

Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management
Canadian Encyclopedia
The most comprehensive, objective and accurate source of information on Canada for students, readers and scholars across Canada and throughout the world.

CQ Press Library This link opens in a new window
Search or browse resources on the American government, current affairs, history, politics, public policy, and data analysis for the social sciences. Database Guide.
Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Encyclopedias and dictionaries on a wide variety of subjects.

Encyclopædia Iranica
Comprehensive research tool dedicated to the study of Iranian civilization in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.

Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology This link opens in a new window
Articles focus on functional phenomena, structural phenomena, fundamental core theory, structural materials, polymers and materials chemistry, functional materials.
Encyclopedia of Medical Devices and Instrumentation This link opens in a new window
Describes the branches of medicine and how technology assists each of them concentrating on what is currently useful or is likely to be useful in future.
Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology This link opens in a new window
Research articles on polymers, plastics, fibers, biomaterials, elastomers, and polymerization processes.

Gale Encyclopedia of Science
Covers all major areas of science, engineering, technology, as well as mathematics and the medical and health sciences, while providing a comprehensive overview of current scientific knowledge and technology.

Gale eBooks (formerly Gale Virtual Reference Library) This link opens in a new window
Encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.

Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture
Carnegie Mellon users only. Comprehensive reference work in this complex and diverse area of art history.

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology This link opens in a new window
Descriptions of chemical substances, including their properties, manufacturing, and uses fundamental to industrial processes and unit operations in chemical engineering.
New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics This link opens in a new window
Overviews of all economic topics by eminent economists - a classic source.
Oxford Art Online This link opens in a new window
An illustrated, encyclopedic work containing 45,000 articles with bibliographies, written by more than 6,800 international scholars on all aspects of the visual arts from prehistory to the present day.
Oxford Music Online This link opens in a new window
Includes The New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians (2001), The New Grove Dictionary of Opera (1992), The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002), The Oxford Companion to Music (2002) and The Oxford Dictionary of Music (2006).
Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window
Over 100 language and subject dictionaries and reference works.
Sage Knowledge This link opens in a new window
Content includes reference works, books, professional development titles and more. Search and browse over 10,000 items, video, book and reference titles within the Social Sciences.

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