Reference librarians
Catalogs and databases
General reference works
Even when you have a general idea of what kinds of sources exist and which kinds you need for your research project, you still have to locate these sources. Many beginning researchers are tempted to assume that all the information they could possibly need is readily available on the Internet. However, it is a good idea to begin almost any research project with the sources available in your college library.
Reference librarians
Get to know one particularly valuable resource, your library staff—
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Catalogs and databases
Your library holds many resources not available on the web and not accessible to students except through the library’s system. One of these resources is the library’s own catalog of books and other holdings, but most college libraries also subscribe to a large number of databases—
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General reference works
Consulting general reference works, such as specialized encyclopedias, biographical dictionaries, and almanacs, is another good way to get started on a research project. These works are especially helpful for getting an overview of a topic, identifying subtopics, finding more specialized sources, and identifying useful keywords for electronic searches.
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