Proper use of various kinds of reference books is a basic skill for English cognitive competence. The present situation at home, however, is that the teaching of how to use English reference books in schools of higher learning is still unsatisfactory, which fails to activate, to the full extent, the potential of reference books and realize its true value. In teaching the use of English reference books, the tasks of developing students' cognitive comeptence and applying ability of referenc books should be planned; the goal of in-depth and rational cognition should be targeted and the principles of laying equal stress on both information and methodoloty, of combining theroy with practice, of teaching for not teaching and learning for self learning should be adhered to. This aims to guide students from perceptual to rational cognition, from passive to active learning, and eventually realize the pedagogical function of reference books in a true sense.