This guide compiles many kinds of "reference sources". We can think of reference sources as published materials that provide well-established information, organized in structured ways. In research practice, they are often used to find general or background information, and to quickly establish key facts about your topic.
Reference sources may or may not have a disciplinary focus. We recommend also consulting subject-specific research guides for specialized resources in your field of study.
Each section of this guide provides information about the types of resources featured, explanations about when and why you might consult them, and examples from our array of databases. While we focus on electronic resources here, we also invite you to explore our physical reference collection, located on the west side of the 9th floor in Bobst Library.
An image, date unknown, of the New York Public Library 135th Street branch reference room, from the New York Public Library Digital Collections
