Gale Virtual Reference Library is a collection of online reference books selected by Niagara University Library.

Tip: to search a specific reference book, click View Publications and then click on the title you wish to search. Otherwise, you will be searching all the reference books simultaneously.

We currently have access to these religion/philosophy titles:

Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2nd ed., 10v, 2006
A new and updated edition of this multivolume set -- the first comprehensive new edition in almost 40 years. Containing material from hundreds of highly distinguished contributors representing the world's top universities and institutions, the second edition has a truly global perspective. It contains more than 2,100 entries -- including more than 450 new articles. Among the many topics covered are African, Islamic, Jewish, Russian, Chinese, and Buddhist philosophies; bioethics and biomedical ethics; art and aesthetics; epistemology; metaphysics; peace and war; social and political philosophy; the Holocaust; feminist thought; and much more. Additionally, the second edition also features 1,000 biographical entries on major figures in philosophical thought throughout history.

Encyclopedia of Religion 2nd ed., 15v, 2005
The second edition of this highly regarded encyclopedia, intended to reflect both changes in academia and in the world since 1987, includes almost all of the 2,750 original entries -- many heavily updated -- as well as approximately 600 entirely new articles. Preserving the best of the first edition's cross-cultural approach, while emphasizing religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture, this new edition is the definitive work in the field for the 21st century. An international team of scholars and contributors have reviewed, revised and added to every word of the classic work, making it relevant to the questions and interests of all researchers.

New Catholic Encyclopedia 2nd ed., 15v, 2003
A standard in public, academic, and high school libraries worldwide, and prized for its scholarly presentation of persons and subjects related to Catholicism and the humanities, this book is the first place to turn for answers for questions on topics such as abortion, divorce, cloning, and reproductive technologies. In addition to the hundreds of new, signed articles on a wide variety of topics, this edition also features biographies of contemporary religious figures, thousands of photos, maps, and illustrations, and completely updated bibliographical citations. The 15th volume is a cumulative index to the entire encyclopedia.

New Catholic Encyclopedia Jubilee Volume 2nd ed., 2000

This supplement focuses on the pontificate of John Paul II and includes thematic essays that present the man and his work.

If you are a current student or employee of Niagara University, you can search Gale Virtual Reference Library from off campus by obtaining a password and user id from a reference librarian.