You can use "tertiary" reference sources (e.g., encyclopedias, biographies, almanacs, etc.) to learn about possible topics, and to gather helpful background information on these topics. These sources provide broad overviews, but also often contain bibliographies that point to more relevant sources. The following reference websites allow for keyword searching and subject browsing.

• Oxford Digital Reference Shelf

  Two million digitized entries from Oxford dictionaries, companions, and encyclopedias in 25 different subject areas.

• Credo Reference

  Links to various reference books including dictionaries and encyclopedias from every major subject including art, science, history, music, foreign language, politics and literature.

• Britannica Online

  Online version of a broad, general-knowledge encyclopedia.

• Gale Virtual Reference Library

  A large, easily searchable collection of reference books.

Specialized reference sources particular to a discipline or area of study can be especially good starting points. The following are available online and are keyword searchable and browsable by topic.

The Writer's Workshop and the Undergraduate Library, in partnership, offer remote research and writing consultations.  Get help from experts focusing your research question(s) or developing your argument.

• Library Catalog
  • Best for finding books owned by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library and other I-Share Libraries
    • Library Guide: Using the Library Catalog
• Easy Search
  • Best for finding "known-items" (i.e. author and title, along with other information is known); not good for browsing 
• Journal & Article Locator
  • Best for finding journal articles when citation (e.g. journal name, article title, author, etc.) information is known
• Library Guides (LibGuides)
  • Keyword searchable "How-To" guides created by University Library Staff
    • Library Guide: Latina/o Library Resources
• Digital Collections Library Guide
  • LibGuide of digital collections purchased by the library, many items of which may serve as primary sources; organized by geographic region, theme, or era
• A-Z Databases
  • Keyword searchable primary and secondary source databases accessible to U of I users; limit by subject, database type (e.g. primary sources), and vendor
• Oxford Bibliographies
  • Subject: Sociology > Latino/a Studies

• Subject Specialists are experts in finding materials in their subject areas. Contact them for help finding specific materials for your research project.