Outstanding Reference Sources

About the Outstanding Reference Sources
The Outstanding Reference Sources list was established in 1958 to recommend the best reference publications for small and medium-sized libraries. Past and current winners can be found here: https://www.rusaupdate.org/awards/outstanding-reference-sources/.

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Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) logo
NameTitleYear
Almanac of American Military HistoryAlmanac of American Military History2014 - Winner
Encyclopedia of the MindEncyclopedia of the Mind2014 - Winner
Frogs of the United States and CanadaFrogs of the United States and Canada2014 - Winner
A History of Jewish-Muslim Relations from the Origins to the Present Day2014 - Winner
Encyclopedia of the U.S. Presidency: A Historical ReferenceEncyclopedia of the U.S. Presidency: A Historical Reference2014 - Winner
Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our CultureMusic in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our Culture2014 - Winner
The Literature of PropagandaThe Literature of Propaganda2014 - Winner
American Civil War: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document collectionAmerican Civil War: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document collection2014 - Winner
Enslaved Women In America: An EncyclopediaEnslaved Women In America: An Encyclopedia2013 - Selection
Biotechnology: In ContextBiotechnology: In Context2013 - Selection
Encyclopedia of HousingEncyclopedia of Housing2013 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Peace PsychologyEncyclopedia of Peace Psychology2013 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Trauma: An Interdisciplinary GuideEncyclopedia of Trauma: An Interdisciplinary Guide2013 - Selection
Dictionary of African BiographyDictionary of African Biography2013 - Selection
Japanese Philosophy: A Source BookJapanese Philosophy: A Source Boo2013 - Selection
Literature of WarLiterature of War2013 - Selection
Presidents and Black America: A Documentary HistoryPresidents and Black America: A Documentary History2013 - Selection
Typography Referenced: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to the Language, History, and Practice of TypographyTypography Referenced: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to the Language, History, and Practice of Typography2013 - Selection
Women in American Politics: History and MilestonesWomen in American Politics: History and Milestones2013 - Selection
The Encyclopedia of Political ScienceThe Encyclopedia of Political Science2012 - Selection
The Civil War Naval EncyclopediaThe Civil War Naval Encyclopedia2012 - Selection
Competing Voices from the Russian Revolution: Fighting WordsCompeting Voices from the Russian Revolution: Fighting Words2012 - Selection
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the BibleThe Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible2012 - Selection
Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and MennonitesConcise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites2012 - Selection
The Polish American EncyclopediaThe Polish American Encyclopedia2012 - Selection
Green’s Dictionary of SlangGreen’s Dictionary of Slang2012 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Sports MedicineEncyclopedia of Sports Medicine2012 - Selection
The Encyclopedia of Literary and Cultural TheoryThe Encyclopedia of Literary and Cultural Theory2012 - Selection
The Homer EncyclopediaThe Homer Encyclopedia2012 - Selection
The Grove Encyclopedia of American ArtThe Grove Encyclopedia of American Art2012 - Selection
2011 outstanding reference sources2011 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and PhilosophyEncyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy 2010 - Selection
Archaeology in America: An EncyclopediaArchaeology in America: An Encyclopedia 2010 - Selection
Encyclopedia of African American History: 1896 to the PresentEncyclopedia of African American History: 1896 to the Present 2010 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Modern ChinaEncyclopedia of Modern China 2010 - Selection
The Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American WarsThe Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars 2010 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Marine ScienceEncyclopedia of Marine Science 2010 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Human RightsEncyclopedia of Human Rights 2010 - Selection
Broadway Plays and Musicals: Descriptions and Essential FactsBroadway Plays and Musicals: Descriptions and Essential Facts 2010 - Selection
American CounterculturesAmerican Countercultures 2010 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Gender and SocietyEncyclopedia of Gender and Society 2010 - Selection
Social ExplorerSocial Explorer2010 - Selection
Hattendorf, John B.The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History2008 - Selection
VandenBos, Gary R.APA dictionary of psychology2008 - Selection
Encyclopaedia JudaicaEncyclopaedia Judaica2008 - Selection
Demello, MargoEncyclopedia of Body Adornment2008 - Selection
Moore, John HartwellEncyclopedia of Race & Racism2008 - Selection
Ritzer, GeorgeBlackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology2008 - Selection
Grant, Barry KeithSchirmer Encyclopedia of Film2008 - Selection
Prucher, JeffBrave New Words: the Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction2008 - Selection
Ciment, JamesPostwar America: An Encyclopedia of Social, Political, Cultural and Economic History2008 - Selection
Buisseret, DavidOxford companion to world exploration2008 - Selection
Leiter, Samuel L.Encyclopedia of Asian Theatre2008 - Selection
Gartner, Scott SigmundHistorical Statistics of the United States: Earliest Times to the Present2007 - Selection
Benjamin, ThomasEncyclopedia of Western Colonialism Since 14502007 - Selection
Keller, Rosemary SkinnerEncyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America2007 - Selection
Haines, Michael R.Historical Statistics of the United States: Earliest Times to the Present2007 - Selection
Carter, Susan B.Historical Statistics of the United States: Earliest Times to the Present2007 - Selection
Zipes, JackOxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature2007 - Selection
Marshall, Stephen A.Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity2007 - Selection
Kastan, David ScottOxford Encyclopedia of British Literature2007 - Selection
Leaman, OliverQu'ran: An Encyclopedia2007 - Selection
Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today's American English UsageRight, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today's American English Usage2007 - Selection
Leonard, Thomas M.Encyclopedia of the Developing World2007 - Selection
Arnesen, EricEncyclopedia of US Labor and Working Class History2007 - Selection
Fremon-Barnes, GregoryEncyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and Military History2007 - Selection
Ryerson, RichardEncyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and Military History2007 - Selection
Hughes, GeoffreyEncyclopedia of Swearing: The Social History of Oaths, Profanity, Foul Language, and Ethnic Slurs in2007 - Selection
Murray, Alan V.Crusades: An Encyclopedia2007 - Selection
Ciment, JamesColonial America: An Encyclopedia of Social, Political, Cultural, and Economic History2007 - Selection
Rätsch, ChristianEncyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and its Applications2006 - Selection
Resch, John P.Americans at War: Society, Culture, and the Homefront2006 - Selection
American Heritage Science DictionaryAmerican Heritage Science Dictionary2006 - Selection
Hines, Darlene ClarkBlack Women in America, 2nd ed.2006 - Selection
Encyclopedia of the Documentary FilmEncyclopedia of the Documentary Film2006 - Selection
Nelson, Emmanuel S.Encyclopedia of Multiethnic American Literature2006 - Selection
Newton, MichaelEncyclopedia of Cryptozoology: A Global Guide to Hidden Animals and Their Pursuers2006 - Selection
Taylor, BronEncyclopedia of Religion and Nature2006 - Selection
Tucker, Spencer C.Encyclopedia of World War I: A Political, Social and Military History2006 - Selection
Hansen, RandallImmigration and Asylum from 1900 to Present2006 - Selection
Gibnery, Matthew J.Immigration and Asylum from 1900 to Present2006 - Selection
Oboler, SuzanneOxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States2006 - Selection
Gonzalez, Deena J.Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States2006 - Selection
Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century PhotographyEncyclopedia of Twentieth Century Photography2006 - Selection
Bryman, AlanThe Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods2005 - Selection
Levinson, DavidEncyclopedia of Homelessness2005 - Selection
Landsberg, Brian K.Major Acts of Congress2005 - Selection
Liao, Tim FutingThe Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods2005 - Selection
Lewis-Beck, Michael S.The Sage Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods2005 - Selection
Buswell, Jr., Robert e.Encyclopedia of Buddhism2005 - Selection
Stein, MarcEncyclopedia of Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered History in America2005 - Selection
Fass, Paula S.Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood: in History and Society2005 - Selection
Ness, ImmanuelEncyclopedia of American Social Movements2005 - Selection
Hillerbrand, Hans J.Encyclopedia of Protestantism2005 - Selection
Greer, John MichaelThe New Encyclopedia of the Occult2005 - Selection
Smith, Andrew F.The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America2005 - Selection
Steele, ValerieEncyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion2005 - Selection
Sorenson, Georgia J.Encyclopedia of Leadership2005 - Selection
Lindberg, ChristineThe Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus2005 - Selection
Shillington, KevinEncyclopedia of African History2005 - Selection
Cross, Gary S.Encyclopedia of Recreation and Leisure in America2005 - Selection
Lagowski, J.J.Chemistry Foundations and Applications2005 - Selection
Martin, Richard C.Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World2005 - Selection
Wishart, David J.Encyclopedia of the Great Plains2005 - Selection
Horowitz, Maryanne ClineNew Dictionary of the History of Ideas2005 - Selection
Grey, DouglasThe Oxford Companion to Chaucer2005 - Selection
Sennott, R. StephenEncyclopedia of 20th Century Architecture2005 - Selection
Onians, JohnAtlas of World Art2005 - Selection
Burns, James MacGregorEncyclopedia of Leadership2005 - Selection
Goethals, George R.Encyclopedia of Leadership2005 - Selection
Hutchins, MichaelGrzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, 2nd ed.2004 - Selection
Nash, Gary B.Encyclopedia of American History2004 - Selection
Guthrie, James W.Encyclopedia of Community2004 - Selection
The Encyclopedia of Education, 2nd ed.The Encyclopedia of Education, 2nd ed.2004 - Selection
Katz, Solomon H.Encyclopedia of Food and Culture2004 - Selection
Weaver, William WoysEncyclopedia of Food and Culture2004 - Selection
Sterling, Christopher H.Encyclopedia of Radio2004 - Selection
Millar, JimEncyclopedia of Russian History2004 - Selection
Kushner, Harvey W.Encyclopedia of Terrorism2004 - Selection
Murray, Christopher JohnEncyclopedia of the Romantic Era, 1760-18502004 - Selection
McDonough, JohnAdvertising Age Encyclopedia of Advertising2004 - Selection
Bryant, Clifton D.Handbook of Death & Dying2004 - Selection
Kremer, S. LillianHolocaust Literature : An Encyclopedia of Writers and Their Work2004 - Selection
Speake, JenniferLiterature of Travel and Exploration: An Encyclopedia2004 - Selection
Piotrowski, Nancy A.Magill's Encyclopedia of Social Science: Psychology2004 - Selection
Campbell, GordonThe Oxford Dictionary of the Renaissance2004 - Selection
Mokyr, JoelThe Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic History2004 - Selection
Loades, DavidReader's Guide to British History2004 - Selection
Bostrom, AntoniaThe Encyclopedia of Sculpture2004 - Selection
Wertkin, Gerard C.The Encyclopedia of American Folk Art2004 - Selection
Zoft, Lynn M.The Beat Generation: A Gale Critical Companion2004 - Selection
Egolf, KarenAdvertising Age Encyclopedia of Advertising2004 - Selection