Reference Services

Reference Services is located on the main floor (Floor 2). The reference desk there is a starting point if you are unfamiliar with the library or unsure how to start your research.  We can assist you through a variety of venues ... in person or via phone, IM, text, or e-mail ... all of which are staffed by Milner Library faculty and staff members familiar with resources and services available at Illinois State.  Reference materials are available in both print and electronic formats.  They cover a wide range of disciplines and are especially useful for obtaining a broad overview of your topic.

Reference Hours, Fall 2009
Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 10 p.m.

 HOW TO CONTACT US

ABOUT OUR REFERENCE MATERIALS

PRINT

The print reference collection includes about 20,000 items such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, and guides. Materials in this collection are available for in-building use only. The most frequently used reference materials are kept at the reference desk. They may be borrowed for use within the library.

To identify print reference materials on your topic, try searching Reference Universe.  Reference Universe is a cumulative index to specialized encyclopedias, compendia and handbooks in the Milner reference collection.  By searching Reference Universe you will be able to find the best print resources to help you begin your research with truly authoritative articles.

ONLINE

Milner Library subscribes to several online full-text reference sources available 24/7 via the Milner website (accessed through the Milner Library databases page). Search them separately or search several simultaneously using the Reference Tools quick search on the Milner homepage.  Especially see ...

Oxford Reference Online Premium Collection
Provides brief (paragraph-length) information on topics in all disciplines.  Especially good for definitions.

Sage eReference
Provides in-depth information, with a focus on the social sciences and education.

Gale Virtual Reference Library
Provides in-depth information in nursing and science.  Includes a collection of sample business plans.

Oxford Art Online
Provides access to the entire text of The Dictionary of Art, the Oxford Companion to Western Art, the Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, and the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms; ongoing additions of new and updated articles, 5,000 searchable images displayed in the text of articles, and image links. Note: the current subscription allows 8 users at a time to access the database.

Oxford Music Online
Coverage on all aspects of music. Includes the following titles: Oxford Dictionary of Music, Grove Music Online, and Oxford Companion to Music.
 
Oxford English Dictionary
The accepted authority on the evolution of the English language. A guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past.

Who's Who
Brief biographies of 1.4 million accomplished persons from all fields of endeavor. 

For a selection of reference sources freely available on the Internet, see Reference Resources Online.

 OUR REFERENCE FACULTY AND STAFF