Products : Reference Universe
Problem: Your library's critical introductory literature is missed by users beginning a research project.
Where should the student or academic scholar begin research on an unfamiliar topic? This is not simply a question for trained librarians, but applies to anyone who has ventured out on the Web, looking for answers. What is authoritative? What is questionable?
To that end, academic and public libraries have, for decades, maintained a carefully-selected collection of specialized subject encyclopedias, designed to assist the novice or non-specialist researcher in gaining a foothold on a topic. But maintaining such a collection--and having it used--have shown themselves to be separate issues.
Unfortunately, no matter how vast a collection of specialized subject encyclopedias your library may own, the wealth of information they contain has remained largely hidden. Why?
Because your OPAC queries only title information or very limited subject headings. Even recently developed 'discovery layers' still leave users confused about what materials is best for beginning research. The result? The most authoritative introductory materials in your library's collection remain largely unseen and unused.
How can you see deeply into your own specialized reference collection, and get users off on the right foot?
Reference Universe is the new way to search e-reference and print simultaneously, and realize a return on the sizable investment you've made in your library's reference collection.
Through Reference Universe, your users can instantly identify which titles are held by your library, at a level of analysis far deeper than that which a library catalog can provide.
Click right through to online articles in your major reference databases, while also peering into your vast print encyclopedia collection at the back-of-the-book index level!
Nearly 50,000 Specialized Reference Titles now represented in Reference Universe
Paratext maintains a unique bibliography of English-language subject encyclopedias and scholarly compendia from 1980- present. More than 30 million index level citations to those works are now represented in the service, from over 750 publishing imprints. Don't restrict your ‘discovery’ to journals or random e-books. Discover your most valued reference materials as well, and bring your reference collection front and center.
New Content Added Regularly
Visit our support site to see all the new specialized reference content now being linked via Reference Universe
By starting our search with Reference Universe we can immediately see if we have resources to help the student. This is an enormous time-saver for our librarians as well as for students.Mary Snyder,
Instructional Services Librarian, Lycoming College
Case Studies
The best way to picture how you’ll use Reference Universe in your library is to read how this unique database has helped your colleagues serve their user communities. Click below to read their stories:
Doctoral Level Masters Level Baccalaureate Level Associate Level
To learn more about seeing Reference Universe in action or to begin trial access, please visit our trial information page.
