Read articles in these encyclopedias to set the context for your research. Note any relevant items in the bibliographies at the end of the encyclopedia articles. Additional background information may be found in your lecture notes, textbooks, and reserve readings. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. The most common background sources are encyclopedias and dictionaries from the reference collection.
Textbooks also provide background information.
Use the High School Library Catalog to find books at the high school library, and Timberland Library to find books at the local public library. Use subject searching for a broad subject. Type PH to order books from Timberland's Online Catalog. Use Proquest and InfoTrac to find full-text articles. If you can't find your subject, try an Advanced or Key Word search.