Finding Encyclopedias on Specialized Subjects

Encyclopedias in the printed collection

The Chemeketa Community College library has a list that includes a selection of its printed encyclopedias. There may be additional encyclopedias and other reference books next to the listed books on the shelf. To find encyclopedias on additional subjects, see below.

Using the Library Catalog To Find Specialized Encyclopedias or Dictionaries

1. Use the default Keyword search in the catalog.
2. Type a word that describes your subject with "AND dictionar*" or "AND encycloped*."
   The asterisk (*) is a truncation character that tells the computer to find any word that begins with "dictionar" or "encycloped." That is: dictionary, dictionaries; encyclopedia, encyclopedias, encyclopedic.
3. In the list of results, click on the title of a book to find its location. The book will probably be in the Reference section, shelved according to the call number.

If the library does not have a subject dictionary or encyclopedia on the specialized subject, try a slightly broader search. For example, if your topic is emeralds, you will find that Chemeketa has encyclopedias of gemstones, but no dictionaries of gemstones. You might try a keyword search for "mineral* AND dictionar*" to help you find a pertinent dictionary.

Encyclopedias in the electronic collection

There are three sites in which encyclopedias are found.

Gale Virtual Reference Library

You can access these at http://proxy.chemeketa.edu/sites/go/gale-vref

• Americans at War
• An Atlas and Survey of Latin American History
• Arts and Humanities Through the Eras
• Dictionary of American History , 3rd ed.
• Encyclopedia of Education and Human Development
• Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology
• Encyclopedia of Multicultural Psychology
• Encyclopedia of Recreation and Leisure in America
• Encyclopedia of Social Psychology
• Gale Library of Daily Life: Slavery and America
• International Encyclopedia of Hospitality Management
• International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (1968)
• International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd ed. (2008)
• Psychology Basics, Rev. ed.

Oxford Reference Online, Premium Edition

This collection (which also has many dictionaries) includes a variety of "Oxford Companions," one-volume encyclopedias or surveys of various subjects. You can access the collection at http://proxy.chemeketa.edu/sites/go/oxford.

• Art & Architecture
• Biological Sciences
• Classics
• Earth & Environmental Sciences
• General Encyclopedia
• English Language Reference
• History
• Law
• Literature
• Medicine
• Military History
• Mythology & Folklore
• Natural History
• Performing Arts
• Physical Sciences & Mathematics
• Politics & Social Sciences
• Pre-History
• Religion & Philosophy
• Science

Encyclopedias on NetLibrary

Chemeketa owns many electronic books, including some encyclopedias, on NetLibrary. You can find these books by searching the library catalog as described above, or browse: Encyclopedias on NetLibrary

For further help, ask for assistance at the Reference Desk, call 503-399-5231, or e-mail reference@chemeketa.edu.

Address of this page: http://library.chemeketa.edu/instruction/encyclopedia.htm

Updated by Reference.