Yes! There is life beyond Wikipedia! Use these collections to find fast facts and references to related books and articles on your topic.
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The Oxford Companion to the Book by These sources will provide articles by authorities in the field on topics, events, places, and persons. Articles will range in length from one or two paragraphs to dozens of pages. Most will give a bibliography of recommended books and articles for further research. There are hundreds of specialized subject encyclopedias. Look in OneSearch under keyword “encyclopedias” + your topic to find more.
The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain
Encyclopedia of American Social History by 
Encyclopedia of the United States in the Nineteenth Century by This link opens in a new window
