IdEnTIFyIng SouRCES 133Librarians at your campus or local library. In all likelihood, there is no bet
ter repository of research material than your campus or local library, and
no better guide to those resources than the librarians who work there.
Their job is to help you find what you need (although it’s up to you to
make the most of what you find). Librarians can give you a map or tour of
the library and provide you with booklets or other handouts that instruct
you in the specific resources available and their uses. They can explain the
catalog system and reference system. And, time allowing, most librarians
are willing to give you personal help in finding and using specific sources,
from books and journals to indexes and databases.Experts in other fields. Perhaps the idea for your paper originated outside
your writing course, in response to a reading assigned in, say, your psy
chology or economics course. If so, you may want to discuss your topic
or issue with the instructor in that course, who can probably point you
to other readings or journals you should consult. If your topic originated
outside the classroom, you can still seek out an expert in the appropriate
field. If so, you may want to read the advice on interviewing we present in
Chapter 11.Manuals, handbooks, and dedicated web sites. These exist in abundance,
for general research as well as for discipline specific research. They are
especially helpful in identifying a wide range of authoritative search tools
and resources, although they also offer practical advice on how to use and
cite them. Indeed, your writing instructor may assign one of these manuals
or handbooks, or recommend a Web site, at the beginning of the course. If
not, he or she can probably point you to the one that is best suited to your
research.■ develop a Working Knowledge of Standard Sources
As you start your hunt for sources, it helps to know broadly what kinds of
sources are available and what they can help you accomplish. Table 6.1
lists a number of the resources you are likely to rely on when you are
looking for material, the purpose and limitations of each type of resource,
and some well known examples. Although it may not help you pinpoint
specific resources that are most appropriate for your research, the table
does provide a basis for finding sources in any discipline. And familiariz
ing yourself with the types of resources here should make your conversa
tions with the experts more productive.■ distinguish Between Primary and Secondary Sources
As you define the research task before you, you will need to understand
the difference between primary and secondary sources and figure out06_GRE_60141_Ch6_129_150.indd 133 11/11/14 2:46 PM