Why Read Background Information?

Use the catalog to try the search examples and find book titles.

Reading background information helps fill in knowledge gaps. Virtually everyone, even experts, can benefit from reading authoritative summaries of the historic background, current developments, major players, and primary issues of a chosen topic. These summaries often include basic bibliographies that help to jump start research projects.

Major sources of authoritative summaries are subject dictionaries and encyclopedias. Other background information may be obtained from biographical and statistical sources and other reference works such as handbooks and directories.

Search the library catalog for biographies. Try searching by:

  • Personal names as subjects or keywords
    • Lewis, C. S.
    • Kuhlman, Kathryn
  • Classes of people as subjects or keywords
    • Bible scholars -- Biography
    • Clergy -- Biography
    • Evangelists -- Biography
    • Missionaries-- Biography
    • Theologians -- Biography
  • Other keyword searches
    • Religio* biography
    • Spiritual biography
    • Christian* biography
    • Evangelical* biography
    • Pentecostal* biography

Statistics & Demographics

Statistics related to religion:

Other sources of statistical information:

Global Statistics

Search the catalog to find the book and ebook titles listed on this page.