Reference books are designed for quick look-up of specific facts; they are not intended to be read cover-to-cover. A great place to start researching your topic, or maybe even to FIND a topic, is by browsing reference books either online if available, or in the Reference Room on the 1st floor of the Killam Library. This type of book will help you get a broad understanding of your topic before committing yourself, and will usually list several of the best scholarly sources available on the subject. See below for some examples.
The Oxford Companion to Canadian History by 
Cambridge History of the Native Peoples of America by 
Africana: The encyclopedia of the African and African American experience by 
The Cambridge History of Africa by 
The Underground Railroad by 
