REL 131: American Religious History: Find Biographical Information

".... any book not designed for consecutive or complete reading:  a book to which you refer, usually very briefly, for a specific bit of information or a concise introduction to a topic." 

Gore, Daniel. Bibliography for Beginners. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1973

Encyclopedia: A single or multi-volume reference work that provides general background articles on either a wide range of topics or a more specialized discipline.

Dictionary: Provides the meaning of words in a language or field of knowledge.

Handbook: A compact reference book providing essential information in a  specific field of study.