Each research topic is somewhat unique and requires the use of different kinds of sources. However, most library research projects have at least some elements in common. In this handout, you will be acquainted with a strategy that is useful for most research topics. This strategy includes four stages: reference works, monographs, periodical literature, and miscellaneous sources.

Reference Works

Reference works are an ideal place to begin your research because they provide easy access to information. Many reference sources are arranged in alphabetical order, are heavily indexed, or offer ready access through some other means. Reference articles, the units that make up most reference works, offer overviews of topics that are usually brief, specific, and written for readers who are unfamiliar with the subject matter.

Examples of reference works include dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, almanacs, and atlases. Most reference works in the Vick Library are shelved in a specific area known as the Reference Collection. These books cannot be checked out. You should consult both general works (e.g., Academic American Encyclopedia) and discipline-specific works (e.g., Gale Encyclopedia of Science, Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Dictionary of Christianity in America).

When starting your research, try to locate one or more reference articles that relate to your topic. Look for three things in a reference article: a brief introduction to your topic; definitions of key terms; and a bibliography of other sources about your topic. These three elements will accelerate the pace of your research.

Monographs

You may not be familiar with the word monograph. This term is used to refer to books that focus on one identifiable topic (monograph literally means "only writing"). Monographs make up most of a typical library’s collection. You will understand most monographs best if you take the time to read one or more reference articles first.

Monographs relevant to your topic can be found in several ways. First, the bibliographies found at the end of many reference articles will direct you to selected works on your topic. Second, you can search the Library’s on-line catalog. More versatile than a card catalog, the online catalog allows you to search the Library’s holdings from many different access points. If you are unsure how a specific subject may be listed in the catalog, type in one or two words that describe it. Then pay attention to the subject headings listed on the records your search retrieves. If you need a book that the Library doesn’t have, fill out a Document Delivery Request form. The Library will attempt to borrow it from one of thousands of libraries worldwide.