What Are Reference Materials?
Reference materials are information sources which provide definitive, factual, and concrete information.
Reference articles discuss the foundational knowledge associated with a subject as it has been vetted by the experts in the field. Reference articles may be used to provide background knowledge written for a general audience; to provide a definition of a concept or theory; to get a quick overview of what is widely accepted as authoritative on the topic.
Reference materials tend to include:
- Dictionaries (both language and topical)
- Encyclopedias
- Bibliographies (lists of resources on a specific topic)
- Manuals, handbooks, and guides
- Directories
Primary Reference Works for Social Work
- Encyclopedia of Social WorkThis is a database curated by the National Association of Social Workers and Oxford University Press.
- The DSM LibraryThis is a database that contains the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the Handbook of DIfferential Diagnosis, Clinical Cases, and The Handbook on the Cultural Formulation Interview.
Social Workers' Desk Reference, 3rd Edition by Call Number: Full-text ElectronicISBN: 9780199329649Publication Date: 2015
The Reference Guide to Data Sources by Call Number: Full-text ElectronicISBN: 0838919634Publication Date: 2014
