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Usually focused on a particular subject, annuals, atlases, and yearbooks present data and statistics from a given year. Their primary purpose is to compile the year's activities into an arrangement by country, subject or specialized area. Annuals and yearbooks are usually located in the Reference Collection of the Library.
| Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, 2002–2005 | QH 573 .A56 |
| Annual Review of Physiology, 2002–2005 | QT 104 .A56 |
| Annual Review of Plant Biology, 2002–2005 | QK 710 .A57 |
Biographies are dictionaries and indexes devoted exclusively to information about people. Information included in biographical sources usually includes the place and date of birth, details about the person's education and major work experiences, character, personality, and contributions to their chosen field. Biographical sources vary as to how much detailed coverage is provided.
| The Biographical Dictionary of Scientists | REF Q 141.B526 1994 |
Critical Surveys are attempts to “survey” the field of literature for a particular time and place, with attention to high, and even low, points. Such surveys discuss the works of authors who are considered to be the most important, exemplary of the era, widely read, and or critically regarded. Surveys include information on literary forms and styles of the era. Literary Histories describe the significant literary events of each period or era.
| Magill's Survey of Science; 6 volumes. | REF TA 145.M298 1993 |
Online information databases are large, regularly updated collections of digitized information -- including but not limited to abstracts and full text articles from journals and newspapers, conference proceedings and submitted papers, dissertations, government reports, essays, book chapters, web pages, etc. The content is created by publishers who release print versions, then lease the rights to their information to database vendors. Database records are easy to search and retrieve because the content of each record has been analyzed and assigned appropriate subject headings, keywords, names, etc. New records are regularly downloaded from the producer of each database.
In order to access these resources off-campus, you must first obtain the passwords.
If you are looking for a specific journal within a database, use the E-Journal Portal. It returns the names of databases which contain the desired journal.
A dictionary is any single or multi-volume work which briefly explains terms and topics related to a specific subject, usually arranged alphabetically. Dictionary entries are usually shorter than those found in an encyclopedia. Dictionaries assist with the understanding of terminology and concepts, suggest synonyms, related terms, and scientific names, and are useful resources to consult when formulating and refining your research strategy. Often illustrations and references to additional resources are included.
| Larousse Dictionary of Scientists | REF Q 141.L36 1994 |
| McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Bioscience | REF QH 302.5.M382 1997 |
| The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms | REF Q 123.M15 2003 |
Encyclopedias are among the most widely used reference sources and contain articles of varying lengths covering all fields of knowledge. Typically encyclopedias cover many topics but without going into a great deal of depth on any one thing. Encyclopedias are a good starting point for researching topics that you do not know much about or that are completely new to you. They can give you background information which can help when you move to more in-depth sources later. Specialized encyclopedias may cover just one field or even a sub-unit of that field. Subject encyclopedias can be consulted for detailed or technical information on a subject.
| Encyclopedia of Animal Biology | REF QL 45.2.E53 1991 |
| Encyclopedia of Global Change; two volumes. | Global Studies Center REF R 362.7.E56 2002 |
| The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants | REF RS 164 .C4437 1996 |
| Encyclopedia of Microbiology; four volumes. | REF QR 9.E53 1992 |
| The Gale Encyclopedia of Science; six volumes. | REF Q 121.G35 2001 |
| The Oxford Companion to The Body | REF QM 7 .O96 2001 |
| Social Issues In Science and Technology: An Encyclopedia | REF Q 175.5.N49 1999 |
Government information is generated by local, state, national, and international governments on almost all topics. Most government information is undergoing a major shift from traditional formats such as print and microfiche, to a variety of electronic formats available through the Internet. Government information is considered to be a primary, authoritative and reliable resource. To find government information on your topic, search the library catalog, specialized indexes, and government agency web sites.
An excellent resource for all types of government information in virtually any subject area or topic is the GSA Federal Citizen Information Center. Individuals can access information online or by using the Consumer Information Catalog to locate items.
Journals are scholarly periodicals which publish current research and commentary on their specific field of study. Most scholarly journals are peer-reviewed which means they have been reviewed and verified by a panel of experts in the field.