The Oxford Guide to Library Research

Let a general Reference Librarian at the Library of Congress show you the best ways to find the information you need. With all the changes in information storage and retrieval, anyone doing research in the late 1990s may feel unsure of the most efficient ways to use the library. Through explanations of nine fundamental methods of searching, Thomas Mann provides an overview of little known but powerful strategies used by librarians and information specialists. These techniques can be applied profitably to almost any area of research, from discovering business records or government documents to unearthing manuscripts in archives or finding genealogical Web sites on line. Chapters explain how to take advantage of controlled vocabularies, browse library shelves systematically, construct keyword searches, use published bibliographies, and even make personal contacts with knowledgeable people. Throughout, Mann enlivens his advice with real world examples, positing along the way some arguments against those theorists who have prematurely announced the demise of print. This book is intended for students, professors, writers, researchers, and librarians.