How to Find Encyclopedias & Dictionaries

Encyclopedias

General

• Encyclopaedia Britannica Online (Duke only)
• Reference Stacks, Perkins first floor, call number begins with AE. Includes a selection of general and foreign language encyclopedias.
• Perkins Stacks, call number begins with AE.

Subject Specific

• Duke-only online encyclopedias
• Search the catalog
  • Use the keyword "encyclopedia" and your topic
    (i.e. "encyclopedia and architecture" or "encyclopedia and energy")
  • Use the Subject Heading for your topic and add " - Encyclopedias"
    (i.e. "Architecture - Encyclopedias")
• Ask for help at the Reference Desk - many subject specific encyclopedias are kept in Reference.

Dictionaries

English language

• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Duke only)
• Oxford English Dictionary (Duke only)
• Search the catalog
  • Use the Subject Heading "English Language-Dictionaries"
  • Use the name of a specific dictionary as a keyword
    (i.e. "encarta and dictionary")
• Reference Stacks, Perkins first floor, call number begins with PE.

Foreign Language

• Online foreign language dictionaries
• Search the catalog
  • Use keyword "[your language] and dictionary"
    (i.e. "catalan and dictionary")
  • Use Subject Headings "[your language] Language – Dictionaries – English" or "English Language – Dictionaries – [your language]"
    (i.e. "German Language – Dictionaries – English" or "English Language – Dictionaries – Swahili")
• On Reserve: Spanish, French and German Dictionaries, at the Circulation Desk, Perkins first floor
• To Consult: Call numbers PA-PL in the Reference Stacks, Perkins first floor.

Call Numbers for most often used foreign language dictionaries:

For other languages, check the online catalog or ask for help from the Reference staff.