There are four steps in the research process shown in this guide which transcend all disciplines. Reference librarians can be very helpful at this stage. In this case, you can just select an ethnic group. However, if you have an interest in a particular subject area, like art, business, or medicine try looking for your chosen ethnic group in connection with that field. Though most people are familiar with general encyclopedias such as the Encyclopedia Americana or Britannica , there are many specialized encyclopedias which may give more focused information.
Some encyclopedias cover an area of study such as art, literature, music or science.
In addition, there are encyclopedias which deal with specific cultures. In addition, the Government Publications area has developed two guides, Hmong and American Indian Resources , which give you overview reports published by the government. The in-depth information which you find in books should give you a fuller understanding of your topic and relate it to the larger field of study. You will use the online catalog to find books in our collection. Unless you are looking for a particular book mentioned in one of the background articles you read, the most direct ways to search are through a subject search using Library of Congress Subject Headings or through a keyword search.