Encyclopedias may be useful for general information about a subject, but they are often outdated or too vague for a research paper. Try out the card catalog or on-line computer catalog and search it by subject. One book or periodical may lead to additional references that you would not have found through a card catalog or computer search. If you come up with an author that seems to have published more than one item on your subject, try a computer search by the author's name. Title searches are helpful if you're looking for a publication that you've used before or that someone has recommended to you.
Reference materials are another important resource.
In most cases, reference materials cannot be checked out of a library, although you are free to use them while you're there and photocopy pages that you'd like to study later. With all references, be sure to jot down the relevant end note or footnote information if you'll be referencing any of the material in your paper. This is important to do whether you'll be paraphrasing, quoting, or just referring to the information. For help creating accurate end notes or footnotes, refer to the citation resources listed at the end of this publication. While books, periodicals, and library reference materials may be the most common resources for research papers, there are other sources that may prove just as useful.