Credo Reference is a searchable collection of over 500 reference books across a wide variety of subjects. Try searching for some background information on your topic here.
Reference sources can include dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks and more. The purpose of a reference source is to help provide you with basic background knowledge on a topic. These sources are generally not cited in papers, unless quoted directly, because the information contained is general common knowledge to someone familiar with the topic.
Here are a few examples of reference sources available through the library. You can search the library catalog for more.
Encyclopedia of associations [electronic resource]
National Survey of State Laws
Social Issues in America