Open access ready reference suites

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to examine open access ready reference suites. Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses various reference sources represented in the open access domain of the web. Findings – The paper finds that, in spite of the variety of open access reference suites mentioned, it is still advisable to be on the lookout for new developments, as some highly relevant sources are not available in any of them, especially some of the best open access subject encyclopaedias in the sciences and social sciences. Originality/value – The paper provides useful reviews of various open access reference sources.