Welcome to Gale Virtual Reference Library!

Gale Virtual Reference Library offers you an online collection of premier reference eBooks. You can search a single eBook or across an entire eBook collection.

Here are answers to some common questions to help you get started:

What is an eBook?

An electronic version of a book. Read more here.

What kinds of eBooks will I find in Gale Virtual Reference Library?

Gale Virtual Reference Library provides you with a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.

How can I get a list of titles contained in this collection?

From the Basic Search page (the "home page" that appears when you first enter this collection), click Show All to see the complete list of eBooks, categorized by broad subject area. You may also click the Title List link found on the Toolbar.

When I use Gale Virtual Reference Library at a another library, there is a different list of eBooks.

Because each library creates its own eBook collection, the content you find may vary if you use the database at different libraries (for example, at your school or your public library or or your office). This may cause your search results to be different when searching different collections.

How do I get to the different types of searches and the other tools available in this database?

Use the banner bars at the top the page to navigate to the search pages, tools, preference settings, etc.

What page first appears when I start this database?

That's the home page, which offers an easy way to begin searching.

Besides Basic Search, what other ways are there to search?

If you are not finding the results you seek with Basic Search or need to enter additional search criteria, try Advanced Search.

I'm reviewing my search results. What do all the icons/links mean? And how can I view a document?

Refer to the Guide to Citations on the Results List Help page. To view a document, simply click its title from the results list.

My results list is too long! How can I narrow this list?

You can limit a lengthy results list to more precisely target the type of documents you are looking for. Also, if you have too few results, you can expand your search.

What if I want to take a document with me? Can I print it? E-mail it? Download a copy?

Yes! Use the toolbar to print, e-mail and download. Please note that images cannot be e-mailed.

What does the term "document" mean?

Refer to the What is a Document? page.

I've found so many good documents that would help me with my research, but I can't keep track of them.

You may want to create a Marked Items list so that you can "set aside" documents that interest you the most. Then you can click the Marked Items link on the toolbar to view them all at once. From there you can print, e-mail and download. Please remember that Marked Items are not saved once you log off. Use InfoMarks if you want a more permanent way to "save" the information you find (InfoMarks make use of the web site address, or URL, which allows you to return to the exact page).

I'm an instructor and I want to a way to have my students access a specific document or link to a reading list I've created containing numerous documents.

This can easily be done using InfoMarks. While viewing a document or a results list or a Marked Items list you have created, click the InfoMark link on the toolbar to get started.

How do I cite the sources I've found?

This database will generate citations for you. Please note that while the data elements for the citations that the system generates have been formatted to meet the latest citation standards set forth by the respective agencies, these citations provide the available publication data for the document cited and should only serve as a guide and not as a replacement for the latest guidebooks – or those required by your instructor. Please refer to the provided MLA examples and APA examples for proper formatting.

Can I use wildcards in my search? Does it matter if I capitalize the words I'm searching for? What is a "stop word"?

Find answers to these questions in the General Search Tips.

How do I exit this database?

Simply click the Logout button on the Title bar.

How do I go to a different Gale database?

Click the Change Databases button on the Title bar. You'll be returned to the Database Menu, which lists all the Gale products to which your library subscribes.

I would like to search the eBooks in this collection AND periodical content at the same time so that my search results contain both reference sources and timely periodical articles.

If enabled by your library, Gale Virtual Reference Library is one of many database collections that can be included in a cross-search, simply by selecting databases from the Database Menu.

I need more information on how to use these Help pages.

Check out the How to Use Help page.

How do I contact Gale?

Follow the links on the Getting Additional Help page.