Gather Background Information - HIST 2630 - Historical Methods - Library Guides at Georgia Southern University

Gather Background Info with Reference Resources

Most reference resources are considered "tertiary" source materials. These books and websites provide background information and an overview and analysis of a subject or concept.

Tertiary sources have been compiled from secondary sources. Unlike a secondary source book or journal article, tertiary sources are not intended to be read in their entirety. Instead, they are most often used to clarify terms and concepts about a particular topic. Tertiary sources include:

Almanacs, Yearbooks, and Factbooks
Bibliographies*
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias*
Indexes and Abstracts
Manuals
Textbooks*

*Also considered secondary

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The database features reference books, encyclopedias, non-fiction books, and history periodicals.
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Includes over 650 titles with particular emphasis on subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and reference handbooks.

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Subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries are more specialized than general ones. Coverage is limited to a specific subject or field of study and contain more developed entries written by scholars and experts within the field.