Reference sources are resources used to locate basic information and secondary literature.

There are many types of reference sources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, handbooks, guides, and style manuals. 

They are a fantastic places to begin your research, especially if you are exploring a new topic.

Reference sources can help you to:

• define your topic in general terms
• find background information, including themes and key points
• identify keywords and alternative terms for conceptualising your subject, and for database searching.

An authoritative and comprehensive reference collection combining access to in-depth scholarly resources in the Oxford Companions series with quick reference coverage from key Oxford dictionaries and reference works.