With most libraries becoming more technologically driven, many, especially larger academic and public libraries, offer a vast amount of other resources for research that complement the more traditional methods described above. Among them are the Internet, CD-ROM, and video collections, featuring information on a variety of subjects.Using the InternetBecause of its unlimited resources and scope, the Internet (also commonly known as the World Wide Web, or the Web) is the obvious first choice as a preliminary research tool for most researchers today, mostly because so many people have access, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Connecting millions of users through thousands of networks in more than 50 countries, the Internet provides the ability to research your topic in the privacy of your home or, if high-speed access is something you lack, at your local school or public library. One disadvantage is that some libraries have only a few computers with Internet connections, so sometimes you need to sign up for them in advance. Others limit use to 30-minute or one-hour blocks so that everyone can enjoy the rich benefits of the Internet. Of course, if you have other traditional research to do, you can work around this potential snag until a computer becomes available.Researching on the Internet can be a rewarding experience. For researchers, one of greatest advantages of the Internet is the large and growing number of potential resources it offers. From uncovering the truth about Alzheimer's disease to learning more about the benefits of space research, this information superhighway boasts not only an abundance of Web sites but also large amounts of data and information on practically any subject. Internet research can be time consuming, mostly because the Web offers such a wide array of choices and potential sites to research. Therefore, when researching your topic on the Internet, you should allow ample time in your schedule to utilize this great wonder of the world.Using the Internet to research your topic has many advantages. You can use it to access online catalogs to see what types of books are available at your library or other libraries in your area. You can also access books and references, plus special collections. You can also check on availability of a book or periodical, or request one to check out.Beside these basic privileges that can expedite the process of your research, the Internet offers many other pluses. Whether you use your library's Internet connection or your own, you can tap boundless other outlets from which you can find and retrieve information pertinent to your topic or paper.Standard reference sources, such as almanacs, dictionaries, directories of people and places, encyclopedias, and other great references, also reside on the Web. Many are accessible through a popular reference site, Refdesk.com, which features links to a wide assortment of online references.The Internet offers countless straightforward directories that group Web sites into categories and subcategories. Directories are an excellent place to research general or more specific groups or subgroups for types of information. Yahoo! is one of the most popular of all directories on the Web (www.yahoo.com), featuring a myriad of directories on a wide range of topics. Yahoo!'s directories are well organized and list links to numerous sites relevant to your topic or subject that you can individually research. Another remarkable site, with a searchable database, is Libdex Open Directory (www.libdex.com), featuring thousands of directories for all kinds of subjects and categories, including online references, such as almanacs, books, bibliographies, and encyclopedias.Literally thousands of major metropolitan, regional, out-of-state, and small-town newspapers—more than 4,000 and counting—in the United States alone also publish online. Newspaper Web sites offer either full or limited access to previously published stories dealing with important issues, and can be accessed from any place at any time of day. One popular resource, with links to seemingly every online newspaper throughout the world, is Linkname: Steve's Online Newspapers, or http://www.mediainfo.com:4900/ephome/npaper/nphtm/online.htm). Many daily, weekly, or monthly newspapers and magazines that specialize in a specific field, likewise have a presence on the Web and offer searchable directories. (See Chapter 13, "Finding Newspapers, Magazines, Journals, and Radio and Television News," for more details.)Thanks to the Internet, millions of data sites and popular source materials are completely accessible to explore. They can provide perspective and information on national, state, and local issues relevant to your topic. This includes everything from state and local public records, to vital records and facts (from the latest U.S. Census to economic data), to federal, state and local government Web sites, to government agencies and government documents. (See Chapter 11, "Finding Government Publications and Agencies," for more information.)In addition, virtual libraries populate the World Wide Web, many with databases you can use to search contents of their sites for archives and archival collections, corporation profiles, crime statistics, electronic journals, health and safety information, medical information libraries, polls and surveys, and more, if you know how. These and many other resources, including how to access them, are discussed in the next section.With all that the Internet has to offer, with its alluring possibilities and potential sites, it is important to note that the Internet is not a perfect research device. Not all Web sites are reputable, credible, accurate, or reliable in terms of content. Personal Web pages abound and should be avoided since they often contain information that is either incorrect or misleading. It is important to rely on sites that are operated by a recognized entity, government, group, or agency, or a credible news source. To avoid using poor resources, part of your research should include evaluating the resources you find. If you feel a site that you found may not be credible or worthy, don't use it. Many techniques to properly evaluate electronic sources are discussed later in this book.Using CD-ROM CollectionsWith more than 16,000 titles in circulation, CD-ROM collections represent another popular source of information and research. Like books and references, most collections cover a specific discipline. Government documents, census data, genealogy, historical information, and vital statistics are among the many subjects available in this format that have great value to researchers.Either preloaded directly onto the computers or transmitted over a network to your library's computers, CD-ROM collections are often mixed with online databases, listed on a menu by subject or title, in most cases. In the case of large databases, libraries pay an annual license fee allowing them to offer these databases, accessible on computers available to their patrons. One primary advantage of the online versions is they are updated much more frequently than their CD-ROM compatriots.To access these databases, you may require help from the reference librarian, who may have to key in a password before you can use them. Depending on the size and nature of your library, plus its annual budget, the selection of titles varies.Using Video and DVD ResourcesAnother form of electronic media that holds tremendous potential for research is VHS and DVD collections.More than 4,000 titles or virtual databases are available for home use—from dictionaries, to encyclopedias, to other mainstream reference—that combine audio, graphics and animation in addition to text, and put millions of pieces of data and images at your fingertips. (See Chapter 10, "Finding General References," for more details regarding video and DVD resources.)Using Specialized SourcesTo fully complement your research, you should also check out specialized sources, described in Section II. Many, but not all, of these sources are available at your local school or public library. While researching at your library may be more convenient, you might also consider, if your research warrants it, visiting other libraries, archives, or associations specifically dedicated to your topic or field of interest, including government libraries, independent research libraries, special libraries, and state facilities.Topping the list is a host of archives and archival collections on many subjects, including local and Internet-based collections, throughout the United States. Featuring historical and rare material covering the history or life of an individual, group, or organization, they range from private papers and manuscripts, to letters and diaries, to personal photographs and other unique artifacts. Specialized associations and societies can also offer a wealth of information.Finding and researching biographical information about notable figures can be accomplished with ease at your local library. Among your library's specialized sources you'll find many resources—biographical indexes, popular biographical references, volumes on regional figures, references on international figures, references by subject, biographical information in electronic form and online—covering people of every trade and profession.In addition to standard publications discussed earlier in this chapter, electronic databases, CD-ROM collections, specialty electronic journals, zines, and newsletters are also vital tools in your research. This includes subscription-based journals, accessible at a library, and free journals on the Web.So are e-mail discussion groups and newsgroups, which are fast becoming an acceptable source for research. Comprised of professionals, experts, and enthusiasts, these online groups regularly exchange ideas and information covering many fields of interest. You can access these groups in the privacy of your own home simply by joining. Membership is usually free.General references are also useful and widely available. Beyond the books and references highlighted earlier, your library most likely features other, more specialized references, including atlases, bibliographies, chronicles by eras and decade, chronologies and daybooks, dictionaries and directories, encyclopedias and guides, and references on popular quotations, public opinion polls, and statistics.Sources also can be found at your library to research most state, local, federal, and foreign governments and agencies. These include printed guides and catalogs, in addition to free online sources.Newspapers, magazines, and radio and television news are also important sources of information. If you research them only at your local library, you may only touch the surface. While most public and academic libraries offer sizable collections of print and electronically published publications, both popular and academic, finding the right publication often involves knowing where to find it. Chapter 14 details numerous magazine indexes, databases, and publication Web sites addressing a specific topic or research.To aid you in your research, the Web itself also offers a bevy of references and research sites on virtually every subject. With so many Web sites available, the task of researching the Web at times may seem daunting—unless, of course, you have this book. Chapter 15 highlights the best research sites, references, and databases on the Web that are accessible free of charge.Finding and using the right search engines on the Web can mean the difference between success and failure in researching your topic. To greatly improve your chance of success, Chapter 16 discusses search engines, including traditional search engines, metasearch engines, and search engine directories.
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