What is a reference collection and how can it help me?
Reference works (encyclopedias, handbooks, companions, historical dictionaries) provide background information on important people, events, concepts, and topics central to a particular field of study. Using them will allow you to quickly acquire the essential information about a topic. Reference works often include bibliographies so you can explore the topic at a deeper level. They will also introduce you to research ideas you might never consider on your own.
BYU Library • Reference Collection Locations:
The Asian Studies Reference Collection is located on the two rows of shorter shelves situated in front of the main, taller, bookshelves on Level 4 in the Asian Collection. Humanities Reference is on Level 5 near the help desk, Social Sciences (on Level 1), and Religion (on Level 2). Ask at any help desk for assistance in locating the relevant reference collection. Many reference books only appear in digital format. These can be found by searching the library catalog.
Encyclopedia of Modern Asia (6 vols.)
Encyclopedia of Asian History by 
Encyclopedia of Western Colonialism since 1450
East Asia and the United States: An encyclopedia of relations since 1784 by 
Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania
Routledge Handbook of Asian Transnationalism by 
The Encyclopedia of Taiwan Studies contains almost 600 entries providing a portal to the multifaceted world of Taiwan history, politics, arts, literature, society, and culture.
This current version contains the first 5 of 15 projected sections. Brill will release of the rest of the content in two additional installments over 2024.
Encyclopedia of India (Ebook Edition), 4 vols. Published: 2006.
To access entries in this work, carefully follow this multi-step process:
1) Click this link to Gale Databases (opens in a new window) and type "Gale Ebooks" into the search box
2) Click the "Gale Ebooks" icon
3) Type "Encyclopedia of India" into the new search box.
4) Several entries from this encyclopedia will appear on screen, each entry contains an article title, Author, and "From: Encyclopedia of India." Click the "From: Encyclopedia of India" link and you will be taken to a search page.
5) Enter search terms in the "Search within this publication" box at the right of the screen.
Provides excellent political, economic, and demographic information for more than 250 countries and territories. For Asian countries look for the relevant link on the "Regions Available" menu on the left side of the homepage.
The CIA World FactBook provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 counties and other geo-political entities.
Asian Development Outlook (ADB)
Encyclopedia of Religion (15 vols.) by 
Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism by Handbook of East Asian New Religions Movements (2018). eBook.
Great Literature of the Eastern World
Masterworks of Asian Literature in Comparative PerspectiveBibliography of Performing Arts in the East (in Western languages)
A ten-part video documentary series produced by PBI contains excellent archival footage and commentary on the most important events involving Asia in the 20th century.
Often there are Whitehouse Press Conferences and US Congressional or Senate Hearings that discuss topics related to Asia. Use these databases to search for events and legislation relevant to your topic.
