Sometimes when you begin a research project you may not be overly familiar with your topic. In these cases it might be helpful to gather some background and general information that will provide the groundwork for the rest of your research. Reference materials like encyclopedias, almanacs, bibliographies, handbooks, dictionaries, and indexes are designed for just this purpose.
Here is a list of some of the reference materials that we have in Brooks Library (or online) that may be helpful to you as you get started with your research: