3. Books

There are many kinds of books and related materials. Some books, such as encyclopedias and bibliographies, are comprehensive guides to an entire subject. Others may present one opinion on an issue, or information on a specialized aspect of a topic. For research purposes, you will probably be looking for books that synthesize all the information on one topic.

Books

Books cover virtually any topic, fact or fiction. For research purposes, you will probably be looking for books that synthesize all the information on one topic. Increasingly, libraries are purchasing "E-books," electronic versions of books that are accessible to students via the Web.

Use a book:

when looking for a lot of information on a topic
to put your topic in context with other important issues
to find historical information
to find summaries of research to support an argument

This brief video from the University of Southern Florida libraries demonstrates when to use a book or an article for research.

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