UMass Amherst Libraries Research Databases

Not Sure Where to Start?
Connection Problems?

Databases in Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

AGROVOC Thesaurus
A multilingual, structured and controlled list of terms to use for research in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food, and the environment.
More About Use

Britannica Online
The classic general encyclopedia, a good starting point for all kinds of research. Includes a thesaurus and links to BBC and NYT for current news.

Also known as:

Encyclopaedia Britannica

More About Use

Chicago Manual of Style
The widely-used citation and usage guide.
More About Use

CQ Researcher
Well-documented full text overviews of current issues, including bibliographies and chronologies. Produced by Congressional Quarterly, 1991-present.
More About Use

Ellis and Messina Catalogue: Foraminifera
Catalog of fossil micro-organisms.

Also known as:

Foraminifera Catalogue

More About Use

Encyclopaedia of Islam
More About Use

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology
More About Use

Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology
More About Use

Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Engineering
More About Use

Encyclopedia of Geography
Good starting point for understanding concepts in geography. Includes additional references.
More About Use

Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics
A scholarly encyclopedia from Elsevier, with an easy-to-follow subject tree arrangement. Each article includes a thorough bibliography. Current.
More About Use

Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology
More About Use

Encyclopedia of Sports in America
More About Use

Encyclopedia of United States Indian Policy and Law
Covers history, politics and sociology of U.S./Native American relations
More About Use

Europa World Year Book
A very useful encyclopedia and directory of the world's countries. Substantive coverage of government, demographics, history, and much more. Current.
More About Use

Gale Encyclopedia of American Law
More About Use

Gale Virtual Reference Library
A collection of several hundred current subject encyclopedias.
More About Use

Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Online
IE 7.0 or Firefox 1.0 or higher recommended.
Essays, images and audio examples about world music.
More About Use

Greenwood Encyclopedia of Homes Through World History
More About Use

Grove Dictionary of Art
The best scholarly dictionary for all aspects of fine and applied arts, including design and architecture. Current.
More About Use

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia
Online version of the comprehensive, lavishly illustrated zoology encyclopedia.
More About Use

Hispanic American Religious Cultures
More About Use

International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Articles, with bibliographies, from experts on all aspects of the social sciences. Current.
More About Use

JapanKnowledge
Requires a PC equipped with fonts for Japanese characters.
A collection for the study of Japanese: multilingual dictionaries, Japanese encyclopedias, Ekonomisuto magazine, T¯oy¯o bunko series, and more, current.
More About Use

Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology
Comprehensive articles on topics in chemistry and chemical engineering, with bibliographies. Current.
More About Use

Lexicons of Early Modern English
A collection of dictionaries and other word lists printed in English before 1700. Useful for etymologies.
More About Use

Literature Criticism Online
Biographies and substantial excerpts from critical responses over time, on the works of a huge number of authors from classical time to the present.
More About Use

Mental Measurements Yearbook
Full-text reviews and ordering information for psychological and educational tests, 1916-present.
More About Use

New Grove Music
Definitive encyclopedia for anything pertaining to music, instruments, composers, and musicians.

Also known as:	Oxford Music Online
	Grove Music Encyclopedia

More About Use

Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome
More About Use

Oxford English Dictionary
Online version of the irreplaceable OED, for word definitions, usage, and etymologies.
More About Use

Oxford Reference Online
Entries from over 100 Oxford University Press subject and language dictionaries, guides, and concise companions.
More About Use

Political Encyclopedia of U.S. States and Regions
Covers roles and functions of state government, with regional overviews.
More About Use

Political Theory: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary and Classic Te
Covers political concepts, themes, issues, movements, groups, and schools of thought.
More About Use

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
A comprehensive online encyclopedia of philosophy by leading scholars. Current.
More About Use

Synthesis Digital Library of Engineering and Computer Science
Peer-reviewed, expert reports on R&D topics in engineering and comp. sci. Includes Coll. 1-3 and CIS part of Coll. 4.
More About Use

Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry
Covers the science and technology of industrial chemistry.
More About Use