Searching and Gathering Information

Finding Reference
Tools

Increasingly, reference tools are available to WSU students via the Internet. To be thorough, you may still wish to consult paper resources. Here are some relatively simple ways to access reference tools online via the WSU Libraries:

Some of your options:

1. Consult the Encyclopedias/Dictionaries/Almanacs databases page.

2. Search NetLibrary. Conduct title searches on your topic and one of the reference tool types we've learned. Before beginning your search, establish a "free account" with NetLibrary. This will allow you to "check out" the electronic books, and view them extensively.

NETLIBRARY INSTRUCTIONS Keep in mind that NetLibrary contain many other books which are not specifically reference books. These, of course, may be also very valuable to your research. A general search on your topic in NetLibrary may yield many useful resources. If you'd like to learn more about using NetLibrary, take a look at the NetLibrary tutorial!

1. To "Create a Free Account", find the link at the top right-hand corner of the NetLibrary homepage, and follow the simple directions this link provides you:  2. Conduct a TITLE search based on the following examples: For example, in NetLibrary try searches similar to these: literature AND dictionary development AND encyclopedia culture AND encyclopedia theories AND encyclopedia food AND dictionary handbook AND behavior