Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide: Step 2: Locate Information

Before starting your research, it's important to understand the types of information sources available. They include:

• Encyclopedias & Dictionaries - to get an overview and definitions for a topic,
• Books & E-Books - good for broad topics, 
• Videos & Images - a picture can be worth 1000 words,
• Articles from newspapers, magazines and journals - covers events and the scholarly interpretation,
• Grey Literature - things not formally published
• Websites.- require careful evaluation of their quality.

To create the most effective and efficient searches, utilize the search strategies listed under step 2f.

Accessing library materials from off-campus requires you to login using your email ID (before the @ sign) and password.  Once in, you have 24/7 access from anywhere!

Video has been posted with permission from Bob Baker, Pima Community College.

If you come across materials you need for your research and the Library does not own it, you have a variety of options.  For books, your best option is to check the GIL Universal Catalog, and if the book is in one of the University System of Georgia libraries, you can request the book through GIL Express and it will be sent to this library where you can pick it up at the Library Services desk.  For articles and books, etc. not held in this library request the item through our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service.  These items will either be sent to you electronically through your ILL account or sent to the Library Services desk.