The Bedford Researcher -- Chapter 9 Summary

The Bedford Researcher: Chapter 9, "Searching for Information with Print Resources," guides the writer "to make the most effective use of the print resources available in a library..." (170). To do this, the writer must browse the library stacks, check out books and periodicals, and borrow materials from another library if periodicals and books are unavailable. The writer use a library periodicals to locate sources by using "works cited lists to find key voices" (172). This involves checking the source's works cited list for relevant articles. Chapter 9 shows the writer how to use a library reference room to locate sources; this involves consulting bibliographies and indexes. To consult a bibliography or index, the writer needs to know the types. The different of bibliographies are trade, general, and specialized. After this information is gathered, the writer can locate a bibliography. The types of indexes are periodical, book materials, pamphlet, government document, and citation. Other means of using a library reference room to locate sources are: consulting biographies, encyclopedias, handbooks, almanacs, and atlases. "Searching for Information with Print Resources" can be an effective instructional resource for the writer to use when attempting to locate print sources. All of the steps discussed in this chapter should be taken into consideration when locating a print resource.