Back to our original question now... Why use reference tools for research?

Reference tools can be very helpful.  They are jam-packed full of useful information, if you know which tool to use for which information need.  Have a look at the chart below.  It outlines some of the most common information needs and which reference tool to use in each case: 

If you need to find ...	Use this type of reference tool...
	Type of tool	Specific example(s)
an overview of a topic and background information	encyclopedia	Britannica Encyclopedia.com
definitions	dictionaries	Merriam-Webster Oxford English Dictionary Online Dictionaries page
facts and details	almanacs, handbooks	Infoplease
paths to other sources of information	catalogs, databases, bibliographies
quick answers to questions	Internet search engine	Google Internet Public Library
statistics	statistical handbooks	UN InfoNation
maps	atlas	PCL Map Collection
phone number, address	directory	UAE White Pages