encyclopedia — A book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject and typically arranged alphabetically

a curious student sits at a wooden desk opening a thick, multi-volume set of reference books with colorful covers. She flips through pages filled with diagrams, maps, and illustrations covering various topics from animals to planets. The open books reveal different subjects on each page - one showing ocean creatures, another displaying historical artifacts. A librarian nearby helps organize more volumes of the comprehensive book set on nearby shelves. Other students in the background reach for similar thick reference volumes. books giving information on many subjects typically arranged alphabetically