Credo Reference (formerly xrefer) is a company offering online reference content by subscription.
Founded in 1999, Credo Reference provides full-text online versions of nearly 1200 published reference works from more than 70 publishers in every major subject, including general and subject dictionaries and encyclopedias. The company's customers are libraries, which may tailor the site's content and interface to suit their patrons' needs. In a May 2011 interview, CEO Mike Sweet stated that Credo Reference aimed to "…satisfy both what librarians want in terms of complexity and what users need in terms of simplicity."
In 2010, a review of general reference sources by Library Journal focused on Credo Reference and three similar services, posing the question “…whether we should begin to expect more from a reference ebook collection than a faithful reproduction of a printed text.” The review noted Credo Reference’s recent improvements, which included integration with social media sites and online research tools. It also noted the customization options that allow a librarian to highlight important local resources, and internal linking within the site from one reference work to another.
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