Dictionaries
& Encyclopedias
Dictionaries and encyclopedias are often a useful starting point. They
can supply basic factual information and definitions. The University
of Melbourne Library holds a large collection of reference works in
print and electronic formats including subject specific dictionaries
and encyclopedias. For example:
Australians,
a historical dictionary / editors, Graeme Aplin, S.G. Foster, Michael
McKernan. Broadway, N.S.W. Australia : Fairfax, Syme & Weldon, 1987.
A
Dictionary of ancient history / edited by Graham Speake. Oxford,
OX, UK ; Cambridge, Mass., USA : Blackwell Reference, 1994.
The
Encyclopaedia of Islam. Leiden, Brill, 1960-[<1998>
The
encyclopedia of revolutions and revolutionaries : from anarchism to
Zhou Enlai /[editor-in-chief], Martin van Creveld. New York
: Facts on File, c1996.
Primary or Secondary Sources?
In general, Dictionaries and Encyclopedias would be classified as Secondary
Sources (unless for instance you were interested in the life of Samuel
Johnson, and had refered to his Dictionary in the course of your research).
The Library
Catalogue can be used to identify useful dictionaries and encyclopedias.
A Keyword search is the simplest method.
Electronic access to Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
In addition, a number of encyclopedias and dictionaries are available
electronically in the Library, for example -
The
Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia [computer file] :
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, society and culture ,
general editor, David Horton ; editor, Dallas de Brabander. Canberra
: Aboriginal Studies Press for Australian Institute of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Studies, c1994.
- is available on CD-ROM at the ERC.
Encyclopedia
of Islam on CD-ROM
A range of dictionaries and encyclopedias are also available electronically
via the WWW. For example:
WWWebster
Dictionary
As with other resources on the web, check that the source is reliable
before making use of the material.
