LibGuides: Peer Research Consultant: Finding Books

Finding Background Information

Looking for something like Wikipedia but scholarly and appropriate for an academic assignment? Try these vetted, edited collections of scholarly encyclopedias, biographies, dictionaries, and bibliographies.

Gale eBooks
Unlimited users.
Updated regularly. A database of encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources. Fully searchable across all files.

For more information on ebooks see the Ebook Guide
SAGE Knowledge
Unlimited users.
Selected titles only. Platform for Sage book and reference content, including scholarly monographs, reference works, handbooks, series, professional development titles, and more. Only select book titles purchased by the UT Libraries are fully accessible.

For more information on ebooks see the Ebook Guide
Encyclopedia of Social Work
5 users.
An online collaboration between the National Association of Social Workers Press and Oxford University Press, the Encyclopedia of Social Work offers hundreds of overview articles on a range of key topics in social work study as well as concise biographies of influential figures in social work history.

Tips for Finding Books

Browse Subject Headings

Library of Congress subject headings can be useful tools for identifying books on a particular topic.

Browse the Stacks

Another effective way to browse books is by going directly to the shelves, or "the stacks," as librarians call them. To browse physical books in the PCL, we recommend starting with books cataloged in the HVs, on 4th Floor in Section S and the 5th floor in Sections J and K.

Not sure how to navigate the PCL stacks? See our Floor Plan and Stacks Guide. Don't hesitate to ask library staff for help!