LibGuides: English: Reference Works

Reference Resources

Electronic reference materials can be found in the following databases:

CREDO Reference This link opens in a new window
CREDO contains all kinds of reference books including encyclopedias, dictionaries, quotations, and subject-specific titles from some of the top university presses in the United States. It also includes over 200,000 images and audio files and over 1200 videos.
EBSCO eBook Collections This link opens in a new window
EBSCO's eBook collection provides access to over 200,000 digitized books, including academic titles.
Health Source This link opens in a new window
This full-text database covers topics such as AIDS, cancer, diabetes, drugs and alcohol, women's health, and more. Additionally, Health Source: Consumer Edition contains Clinical Reference Systems reports (in English and Spanish) and Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary.
Oxford English Dictionary (OED) This link opens in a new window
The accepted authority on the English language, providing an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of more than 280,000 entries – past and present – from across the English-speaking world.A great choice for investigating the history of words and their meaning.
Points of View Reference Center This link opens in a new window
A reference resource that provides both sides of a current issue in a point and counterpoint format. The articles help you to develop arguments to support your position. Includes essays, charts and graphs, images, and more.

Print Reference

The library has a large print reference collection covering a wide-range of subjects available in the library. These books are only available to use in the library and cannot be checked out.

Library Catalog Search This link opens in a new window
Catalog of physical items in the Napa Valley College library and the Napa County Public Library System as well as many digital items including eBooks, streaming media, and more.