LibGuides: Online Reference Collection: Resources by Subject

Subject Libraries and Specialists

The University of Illinois has many subject specific libraries that you can visit or contact for further help. Consult this list of libraries by college and major to see which library is right for you.

If you have any questions or need help with your research, contact one of our library's subject specialists.

Guide to Basic Sources in Art: Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Serves as a starting point for research on art, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and biographies.
Guide to Sources in Landscape Architecture
Includes bibliographies, biographies, dictionaries, and encyclopedias on landscape architecture.

Art and Architecture (Ricker) Library
The Art and Architecture (Ricker) Library supports the College of Fine and Applied Arts and related fields in the humanities, such as landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, art, and architecture.

Business Information Services (BIS)
BIS's homepage has links to useful online resources, as well as frequently asked questions and contact information for research consultations. They can help with questions on accounting, corporations, insurance, marketing, real estate, taxation, as well as general business questions.

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Research Resources: Handbooks & Reference
Lists e-books on chemistry and biomolecular engineering.
Engineering Handbooks
Lists online encyclopedias and handbooks in many engineering fields.
Grainger Engineering Library
Grainger subject specialties include atmospheric sciences, climatology, computer science, data services in the physical sciences, engineering, and meteorology.

Film Study Reference Guide
Lists encyclopedias and handbooks focused on cinema studies.
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers
Covers films and filmmakers, including legendary films, actors and actresses, directors, writers and other production artists.
Literatures and Languages Library
The Literatures and Languages Library covers the literatures and languages of North America and Western Europe from Classical Antiquity to the present as well as Classical studies, cinema studies, English worldwide, linguistics and translation studies.

History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library Online Reference Collection
This guide contains links to online reference resources and suggestions on where to begin your research on history, philosophy, and newspapers.

Literatures and Languages Library
Covers the literatures and languages of North America and Western Europe from Classical Antiquity to the present as well as Classical studies, cinema studies, English worldwide, linguistics and translation studies. The unit serves the Department of English, Department of Theatre, School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics, and the Department of Media and Cinema Studies.

AMA Physician Select
This American Medical Association site provides addresses, specialties, education, and other background information on licensed physicians in the U.S. and its possessions. Search by physician name or medical specialty.
Encyclopedia of Public Health
Aimed at the non-specialist reader interested in health and medicinal issues, the encyclopedia examines a broad range of topics such as environmental health, drug abuse, epidemiology, nutrition, demographics and diseases. Includes overviews, definitions and biographical entries.
Health Information Portal
Developed by librarians at the University of Illinois, this website provides links to commonly used health databases such as PubMed, as well as subject links for more than 30 health specialties, including aging, alternative medicine, genetics, medical imaging, oncology, substance abuse, toxicology, and veterinary medicine.

MedlinePlus
Health information provided by the National Library of Medicine. Includes tutorials, a medical encyclopedia, a drug information, provider directories and more.

Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL)
SSHEL specialties include applied health sciences, education, social work, library and information science, anthropology, economics, gender and women's studies, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology, as well as interdisciplinary biomedical sciences research.
Veterinary Medicine Library
Collection of veterinary medicine and animal science resources.
Biomedical Sciences Virtual Library
Links to useful online resources, as well as frequently asked questions and contact information for research consultations.
Physics and Astronomy Virtual Library
Online collection of physics and astronomy resources.
Dorland’s Dictionary of Medical Acronyms & Abbreviations
Dorland’s Dictionary (formerly Jablonski’s) contains medical abbreviations and symbols across all medical specialties.

Music Research Resources
Lists useful resources, including dictionaries and other reference tools.

Oxford Music Online
Oxford Music Online (OMO) is the access-point for Oxford music reference subscriptions and products, including Grove Music Online, The Oxford Companion to Music, The Oxford Dictionary of Music, and Encyclopedia of Popular Music. With OMO patrons can cross-search Grove and Oxford reference content in one location. Articles from specialist dictionaries such as The New Grove Dictionary of Opera and The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed., are available via OMO.

The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music
A guide to biographies of thousands of composers, performers, music theorists, and instrument makers involved in the unfolding history of music.
Music and Performing Arts Library
Supports the School of Music and the Departments of Dance and Theatre, and has print, electronic, and A/V collections in all areas of music, dance, and theatre.

Online Reference Sources for History, Philosophy, and Religion
Links to encyclopedias and dictionaries related to specific religions and religion in general.
History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library (HPNL)
Serves the disciplines of history, philosophy, religious studies, and Jewish studies and any discipline utilizing current and historical primary sources, including newspapers. The HPNL includes the African American Research Center.

Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography
Includes extensive biographical essays focused on scientists from antiquity to modern times, excluding those who are still living.
Encyclopedia of Life
Encyclopedia in development with the goal of having information about every single organism on Earth.
The Gale Encyclopedia of Science
Covers major areas of science, engineering, technology, as well as mathematics and the medical and health sciences.
Science and Its Times: Understanding the Social Significance of Scientific Discovery
The histories of science, technology, and mathematics merge with the study of humanities and social science in this interdisciplinary reference work.
Biology Virtual Library
Chemistry Library
Geology Virtual Library
Veterinary Medicine Library
Collection of veterinary medicine and animal science resources.
CASSI: CAS Source Index Search Tool
Provided by the American Chemical Society, CASSI is a free tool to quickly identify journal titles and abbreviations for publications indexed since 1907, including serial and non-serial scientific and technical publications.

Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL)
Choose a topic from under "Find by Subject" and use the "Background Resources" on the page. Subjects include Anthropology, Biomedical Sciences, Community/Public Health, Economics, Education, Gender & Women's Studies, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology.