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Theatre: A Research Guide: Find Background Info

Reference Hours

Monday: 7:45 am - 9:00 pm
Tuesday:7:45 am - 9:00 pm
Wednesday: 7:45 am - 9:00 pm
Thursday: 7:45 am - 9:00 pm
Friday: 7:45 am - 5:00 pm

* Hours vary during breaks.

Purpose of Background Information

Background information can be found in:

  • textbooks
  • dictionaries
  • general encyclopedias
  • subject-specific encyclopedias  
  • article databases

Background research serves many purposes.

  • If you are unfamiliar with the topic, it provides a good overview of the subject matter.
  • It helps you to identify important facts related to your topic -- terminology, dates, events, history, and names or organizations.
  • Background research might lead you to bibliographies that you can use to find additional sources of information on your topic.