Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia.  Anyone can author a new entry and anyone can edit entries.  It is written collaboratively by volunteers, anyone who wants to participate.  Both authors and editors do not always have expertise on the subjects or topics they write about.  Unlike most paper subject encyclopedias, entries are not signed, though Wikipedia has been insistent more recently on its policy that a list of References (Works Cited) are placed at the end of each entry.  The challenge of Wikipedia as a reliable resource is that there is always a good chance of coming across false or incomplete information.

The Library recommends that if you use Wikipedia at all, instead of looking at the entry, go to its references and look at those sources instead, after you have evaluated them carefully, of course.  You should also search EBSCOhost and other reliable resources as key articles or other news stories may not have been reflected in the Wikipedia entry.  If your instructor tells you not to use Wikipedia, we recommend you take a look at subject encyclopedias.  In these, both the authors and editors are experts in their fields, entries are most often signed, and they have a list of references at the end. Come to the reference desk or contact us to find out what subject encyclopedias may include your topic.