Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, and Other Reference Sources
Encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference sources are a great way to get started and to find background information on your topic from various perspectives. If you want to search for a specific topic or concept across various disciplines to get different perspectives try the following online collection of reference books.
Using Google and/or Wikipedia when you are trying to get general background on a topic is ok as long as you are using them wisely. Here are some tips for 'smart' searching the open web: