What is a Reference source?

Reference sources are basic research tools such as almanacs, dictionaries and encyclopedias that have authoritative information or information from a source that can be trusted. Most reference resources contain facts from experts that you can count on having correct information.

Reference books in the library are great places to find information that you can count on being correct because before books are made, their facts are checked by many experts.

You have to be very careful when relying on the Internet for facts. Many websites are made by people who are not experts and their facts are usually not double checked. Whenever you use a website to find information for a research project it is best to double check that information with information from a reference book...or at least a few other reliable websites!