Reference Works and When to Use Them
If a subject is new to you, or if you would like an overview of a topic, basic factual information, or sources for further reading, you may want to consult reference materials. The sources listed below are located in the Reference Collection (main floor, southeast), the Bizzell Library stacks, or for e-books, online via the library's website (click on titles to access).
Reference Works
Brockhaus EnzyklopädieThe largest German-language encyclopedia. Reference Stacks, AE 27 .B8 2006. 30 vols.
The Concise Cinegraph: Encyclopaedia of German CinemaBiographical encyclopedia of actors, directors, writers, and crew involved in German movie making. Bizzell, 3rd Floor, PN 1993.5 .G3 C65 2009.
Countries and Their CulturesE-book. Longer essays on various aspects of countries' culture, history, society, customs, etc. Also in print in the Reference Collection at GN 307 .C68 2001.
Dictionary of German BiographyOver 60,000 biographies of people from the German-speaking world. Note: no living people are included. Reference Stacks, CT 759 .D4813 2001. 10 vols.
Encyclopedia of Contemporary German CultureBrief articles on people, institutions, objects, etc. related to late 20th century German culture. Bizzell stacks, DD 290.26 .E53 1999.
Encyclopedia of German LiteratureInformation on German writers, major works, literary theory, etc. Bizzell stacks, PT 91 .E53 2000. 2 vols.
Reference Works (cont'd)
Holocaust Literature: an Encyclopedia of Writers and their WorkOver 300 entries on the key authors who have written about the Holocaust. In the Bizzell stacks, PN 56 .H55 H66 2003. 2 vols.
Killy Literaturlexikon, 2nd editionMajor bio-bibliographic encyclopedia on German literature, in German. Bizzell stacks, PT 41 .K55 2008. 13 vols.
Modern Germany: An Encyclopedia of History, People, and Culture, 1871-1990Brief signed articles and references for further reading. Bizzell stacks, DD 14 .M64 1998. 2 vols.
Online Reference Resources (Multinational/Multidisciplinary)
- Dictionary of Literary BiographyLengthy essays on literary figures.
- Gale Virtual Reference LibraryAccess encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.