Encyclopedias are an excellent source to obtain background information on a topic. WNC Library has a collection of reference books (encyclopedias, handbooks, and fact books) online - many of them focusing on a single topic or subject. Like Wikipedia, they provide comprehensive overviews of topics. Unlike Wikipedia, these articles come from easily identified publishers and are usually written and signed, by an expert scholar, so they can be cited in your research project.
If you don't know anything about a topic, CQ Researcher or one of the library's 700 online encylopedias would be a good place to start.
WNC Library has a collection of reference books (encyclopedias, handbooks, and fact books) online - many of them focusing on a single topic or subject. Like Wikipedia, they provide comprehensive overviews of topics. Unlike Wikipedia, these articles come from well-respected publishers and are usually written and signed, by an expert scholar, so they can be cited in your research project. Use the links above to find a subject encyclopedia on your topic. Here are a few examples:
The Five Ws - created by Highline Community College librarians