Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, find one or more sources of background information to read. 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.
The sources cited in the bibliography are good starting points for further research. Check the subject headings listed in the subject field of the record for these books and articles. Then do subject searches using those subject headings to locate additional titles. Check these bibliographies for additional relevant resources for your research. By using this technique of routinely following up on sources cited in bibliographies, you can generate a surprisingly large number of books and articles on your topic in a relatively short time.