Our library has two forms of encyclopedias:  Hard copy and electronic versions.  The first is simply the old-fashioned "book on the shelf" type of encyclopedia.  The second is a CD-ROM version of these books.

Most of you know how to use an encyclopedia.  You take the books off the shelf, look up your topic, read the article, and take notes.  However, what happens when you look up your topic and can't find anything on it?  Or you look it up and only find one little paragraph and need enough information to write a two-page paper.

This is when you used the encyclopedia index.  This is usually the last volume and is, unfortunately, the least used volume of the set.  By using the index, you can see at a glance everywhere in the encyclopedia where you may find information on your topic.  It will give you the volume and page number for each article.

A B C- Ci-D E F G H I J- K L M-MmN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ci Cx MiMz

Index

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Which volume would you use to find information about Thanksgiving?

Volume 22

A B C- Ci-D E F G H I J- K L M-MmN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ci Cx MiMz

Index

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Which volume would you use to find information about the

Solar System? Volume 21

A B C- Ci-D E F G H I J- K L M-MmN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ci Cx MiMz

Index

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Which volume would you use to find information about former governor Mel Carnahan?

Volume 3