How do I use Gale Virtual Reference Library, Oxford Reference, or Access Science?
I'm looking for online reference sources. How do I use the reference databases to find these?
Answer
Finding an article in a reference database
Search a reference database for articles on a topic across multiple Encyclopedias. Gale Virtual Reference Library and Oxford Reference are databases that contain Encyclopedias that you may search with a focused keyword search.
Use a keyword search focused on your broad topic such as "foster care" or "public health". Articles from these databases are excellent sources of definitions and important context for your research.
Within each database you'll find different articles from encyclopedias. If there are multiple articles you can look at the title of the encyclopedia to see which might work best with your interest. For instance, Foster Care might show up in an Encyclopedia of Childhood, or an Encyclopedia of Family, but might also be found in an Encyclopedia of Law, and each article will provide a different perspective on the topic.
Gale Virtual Reference Library is a database that covers a lot of different areas but is strongest in the social sciences and medical areas. It's a good first choice to search if you're looking for online reference.
Oxford Reference searches humanities most strongly. You have to limit to content that is available to you after you do your search as it will include content that we do not have full text access to.
You will find databases on the WWU Libraries Databases page.
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