Women & Gender Studies: Background Info

Reference books can be useful in locating background information on a topic, biographical data, lists of key articles on a topic, or statistics. Browse the REF HQ 1101 - HQ 1900 area on the first floor for similar books.

You can also do a keyword search in the library catalog to find reference books about women's studies, such as the encyclopedias to the right. Try searches using a keyword (such as women OR gender) and adding a word to describe the type of book (examples: encyclopedia, dictionary, handbook). 

Examples of searches:

• women biography authors
• women biography leaders
• feminist
• feminist rights
• gender encyclopedia

Other Strategies:

• Type in the name of the person you're studying in the subject search mode to get books cataloged about that person. Type in last name first.
  • Example: Anthony, Susan B.

• Type in the name of the person you're studying in the author search mode to get books that person wrote, including autobiographical writings. Type in last name first.
  • Example: Clinton, Hillary

• Type in the name of the person you're studying in the keyword search mode. Also try combining their name with a word describing specific content, for example:
  • Audre Lorde biography
  • Emily Dickinson correspondance
  • Betty Friedan interviews

• Is the book you need checked out to someone else? As a student you can borrow it for no charge from another library through the following services: