Quick Help: Library research

Quick Help: Library research

  • List the kinds of information—such as scholarly sources or older sources—that you will be likely to find only in the library.

  • Consider which resources in your library will be most helpful in your research project. Can you make an appointment to talk with a reference librarian about your research?

  • At your library or on its website, familiarize yourself with the holdings. What databases will be helpful as you plan your research? Does the library have books and general reference materials, such as specialized encyclopedias, that you should consult? Does it have special collections or archives you can use?

  • What keywords or headings are likely to produce the best search results in your library’s databases and catalogs?

  • What searches or indexes can you use to find articles?

  • If you are looking for a print book on a library shelf, consult other books around it to see if they are relevant to your topic.

  • Have you consulted the bibliographies of the books and articles that interest you to find additional resources on your topic?

  • Will you need to use interlibrary loans for access to materials that your library doesn’t own? If so, plan ahead.