Tools of the Trade, pt.1 briefly discusses thesauruses, with a quick note on why they are useful to indexers, and gives a quick overview of the More Resources for Writers page. Tools of the Trade, pt.2 touches on the various kinds of dictionaries and their relevance to indexing.

And now to discuss another tool that is important to indexers…

Encyclopedias

When indexing, encyclopedias offer in-depth information on specific topics; they provide critical background knowledge and research-based insights. In this regard, encyclopedias serve a similar function to that of specialized dictionaries.

A List of Some Encyclopedias

Find these encyclopedias (and others) at your local library. Contact your librarian, search WorldCat, or contact me for help with finding what you’re looking for.