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Information Guides for Silberman School of Social Work

City University of New York, Hunter College, Hunter College Libraries

Foundational Academic Knowledge in the Library : Encyclopedias and Reference Material

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:

  • Encyclopedias
  • Dictionaries (both language and topical)
  • Bibliographies (lists of resources on a specific topic)
  • Manuals, handbooks, and guides
  • Directories
  • Textbooks

Primary Reference Works for Social Work