Books are especially useful for research projects. Often students in introductory classes must write research papers on broad topics like the Civil War. While many scholarly articles have been written about the Civil War, they will not provide the kind of general overview of the topic that is available in books.

Searching the library catalog for a book is a lot like searching databases. When you find a source that looks promising, check to see whether it is currently available or checked out to another student. If it’s available, write down the title, author, and the call number. The call number is like an address that tells you where the book is located in the library. After you have this information, head into the stacks to locate your book or journal. If it’s checked out to another student or if your library doesn’t own the item you’re looking for, remember to ask about interlibrary loan. One of the biggest benefits of searching for books is the ability to browse. When you find your book on the shelf, look at the other books around it. They will be on the same topic.

Many books are also available electronically; some of these e-books can be easily accessed online. Your college library may have books available in this format as well. You can browse the entire e-book chapters and even print a few pages.