Exploring sources/Reference overview
Reference materials can be found in many formats. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, atlases and similar materials are the most common forms of reference sources. Generally you should consult such materials for concise, factual information, to get an overview of your topic, or to merely explore related topics.
Reference sources should always be consulted when your knowledge on a particular subject is limited.

General reference sources
A good place to start most research is by consulting a good general encyclopedia like the Encyclopedia Britannica. Read any articles you find in these encyclopedic sources, note keywords, concepts, and authors associated with these articles. Consult the bibliography for journal article and book references to follow up later.

Recreation and leisure reference sources
Check the Recreation and Leisure Studies/Tourism Subject Guide available on the main floor of the Library for a selective summary list of basic reference books relevant to Recreation and Leisure. Some sources relevant to Recreation and Leisure include Dictionary of concepts in recreation and leisure studies, Handbook of tourism and leisure, and the Encyclopedia of 20th century American humor.

Don't forget to consult other Subject Guides in Applied Health Sciences that might be relevant to your topic. This is especially true for recreation and leisure topics since many other academic fields are relevant in recreation studies. Check the guides for Community Health Sciences, Physical Education, and Sport Management for lists of other sources that might be useful for you. In a similar fashion there are guides available in the library on other subjects like Sociology, Psychology, Education, Marketing and Economics that are worth a look.