The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
JOMC 50/EIS Research Initiative
Last updated September 4, 1996.
Online EIS Class Handouts
Don't Let Libraries Fool You!
At first glance a library can look like a maze in which it would be easy
to get lost. Most people think finding information in a library is a
tedious and time-consuming chore. Don't let appearances fool you, the
library can be the fastest route to the information you need. You just
have to know where to go in the library.
Here are some good places to quickly find information in a library:
- Encyclopedias: These books contain a vast number of articles on a
lot of different subjects. Remember that the index volume of the encyclopedia
is a wonderful place to start because it will help you to quickly find
more articles on your topic than by simply looking your topic up in a
specific volume. Be careful! Encyclopedias are only good for getting
overviews on topics, not up-to-date information.
- Almanacs: For answers to statistical questions, you'll do well with
an almanac. Some good almanacs are The World Almanac and Information Please.
Also, Statistical Abstracts of the United States is an excellent source.
- Biographical dictionaries: When a researcher needs information on
an important person, biographical dictionaries are the best place to start,
even if the person is not a "household name." Some strong biographical
dictionaries include Current Biography and Biographical Dictonaries and
Related Work.
- Atlases: Maps found in atlases can answer many different kinds of
questions, from simple questions (Such as: Which highways run through
a certain city?) to more complex and difficult questions (Such as: How
do literacy rates compare in different countries?) Often, the answers
are presented in an easy-to-see graphical form which makes a researcher's
job much easier. One excellent atlas is The Times Atlas of the World.
- The Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Before you search
for information about a subject which may be unfamiliar to you, be sure
to consult the LCSH. This source will guide you in your search by listing
the words that library catalogs and other databases associate with your
subject. If you do not use the LCSH, you run a danger of guessing incorrectly
which words you should use when looking for information and you will probably
not find anything you're looking for. The Library of Congress Subject Headings
definitely make life a look easier for journalists.