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.

Libraries organize and store their book collections on shelves called "stacks." Some electronic books are now available on the Web and can be accessed through the Proctor Library catalog.

Use a Book

• when looking for in-depth 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

Examples

• Parks, Pat. Railroad That Died at Sea: The Florida East Coast's Key West Extension, 1994.
• Branscomb, Eric H. Casting Your Net: A Student's Guide to Research on the Internet, 1998.
• Smith, J. T. Roman Villas: A Study in Social Structure, 1997.