Unlike a library catalog, which only provides data about reference works, Reference Universe searches the actual indexes of more than 10,000 authoritative encyclopedias, compendia and handbooks. .

Searching

Type your term(s)in the search box and click Search.

Reference Universe supports wildcard searches: * [asterisk] for multiple characters (e.g. electri*) and ? for single characters (e.g. car?)

The results of your search are displayed according to a ranking system. Results are ranked according to the presence of your search term(s) in the title of a work first, followed by its presence in the indexes or article titles of the work.

In most cases, the works appearing on the first page of results will contain the most information on your search term/phrase.

Viewing Titles and Indexes

Click on the Title to open up the bibliographic record in your library's catalog. The second line of each citation contains additional links:

These functions allow you to go deeper into a work, where you can find the precise volume and page number for print titles, or link directly to an electronic edition, if your library has access.

Sorting Results

Use the Sort function to re-sort your data according to:

Exporting Data

To export all results, click Download.

To select titles for export, check only the boxes adjacent to the title. Click Save Checked Items first, then Display Saved Items, before using Download.

You can export citations as brief records or in RefWorks or Endnotes formats.

Toggle between Results

You can select to see all the results from the search (including titles your library does not own) by selecting All Results.

Though generally of use only to library staff, you can also select Non Local Results, which will show only those titles your library does not hold, based on your search term(s).

Browsing

If you are uncertain of a search term, use the Browse feature. This permits you to explore Reference Universe by:

• Publisher
• Title of the Work
• Subject Headings
• Index or Article Terms
• Call Number
  

Hint:

Use both the "and" as well as "or" options on Search to provide different results. Because Reference Universe searches actual indexes, "or" might provide better results in some cases.