A typical academic library invests thousands, if not millions, of dollars annually to provide students with online resources for conducting research. Some popular online library resources include EBSCOhost, LexisNexis Academic, and ProQuest. These databases enable you to search newspapers; primary source documents; periodicals; scholarly journals; government, business, and legal documents; and even televised news transcripts. Moreover, most academic databases allow you to search for photographs, graphs, and other images you may want to use in your speech.

Libraries also offer print and online versions of generalized and specialized encyclopedias and dictionaries. Dozens of subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries exist, ranging from Ancient Europe, 8000 B.C. to A.D. 1000: Encyclopedia of the Barbarian World to The Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology. Many encyclopedia entries reference other key sources you can use while researching your speech, such as related books and articles.

Finally, many college libraries subscribe to two popular and useful resources for persuasive speech assignments: CQ Researcher and Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. CQ Researcher is a database of reports developed by journalists on specific themes, ranging from health care to the economy. Each report provides background on the topic, an objective examination of different perspectives on the topic, and a bibliography. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center takes several of the best primary and secondary sources available on controversial social issues and organizes them by topic. Each of these resources is a good starting point for gaining a broad perspective on a social issue.