Encyclopedias are collections of short, factual entries often written by different contributors who are experts on a topic. There are two types of encyclopedias—general and subject. General encyclopedias provide concise overviews on a wide variety of topics. Subject encyclopedias contain in-depth entries focusing on one field of study. The best place to find an encyclopedia is in a library. However, some encyclopedias can be found on the Web.

Use an Encyclopedia

• when looking for background information on a topic
• when trying to find key ideas, important dates or concepts
  

Examples

• Encyclopedia Britannica (general encyclopedia)
• Columbia Encyclopedia (general encyclopedia)
• Small Business Encyclopedia (subject encyclopedia)