How to Search the Web

Conducting a Reference Site Search

Reference search sites allow you to search for information that has been collected in encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, dictionaries, and other reference resources. Some reference sites, such as MSN Encarta and Encyclopaedia Britannica Online offer limited access to information in their encyclopedias for no charge and complete access for a fee. Other sites, such as Infoplease and Bartleby.com, allow unrestricted access to recently published reference works, including the Columbia Encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of World History, and The World Factbook.

A number of sites specialize in searches for reference information. You can find a list of reference search sites in the Bedford Research Room's Links pages.

In this demonstration, we'll conduct a search using Encyclopedia.com. To begin this demonstration, click on the Continue button.