This strategy involves first doing a keyword search to find books relevant to a topic. Once a 'good' book is found, look at its subject headings. Then do a subject search and type in that subject heading. You should find other books on your topic this way. The library's reference collection contains materials that are quite useful to students studying foreign countries.
Encyclopedias are a good source to use to find basic information about a country.
Several general encyclopedias are located at REF AE 5. This encyclopedia gives information about world cultures. Each entry includes information on the culture's ethnonym, location, physical environment, demography, linguistic affiliation, economy, kinship, marriage and family, political organization and religion. The set includes bibliographies, maps and an indexes. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life.