Once you’ve talked with the people who can help you in your quest, turn to institutions. You will find sources located in companies, associations, and libraries.
Never, for example, neglect the institutional knowledge you can find stored away in company files. Depending on the extent and comprehensiveness of your organization’s filing systems, you may find all the information you need tucked safely away in company files. Why not see what the institution already has to offer?
Second, consider associations. There are thousands of associations in Washington, D.C., the headquarters of many organizations. Associations representing everything from car dealers to concrete manufacturers store vast amounts of specialized industry-related data. For example, the National Association of Broadcasters houses a fine library, chock full of data on the industry, and it is a necessary stop for anyone writing about the media. Many associations have their own home pages.
Third and most familiar is the institution we call the library. Eventually, we all end up there because it is an invaluable resource. Although neither this chapter nor this book will turn you into a research expert, make sure you consider the following library resources: the electronic card catalogue, the reader’s guides to periodical literature, and the research librarians.
The electronic card catalogue lists the library’s collection of books in three primary ways, but you may search under any field held in the database: by title, by author, and by subject. Thus, The Computer in Business by John Doe could be found either under Computer in Business, The (its title); Doe, John (its author); or computer business (its subject). A quick search through the subject catalogue, which is automated in most libraries, will give you a good general idea of what your library has available in your topic area. Often you can establish your bedrock research by stopping here first.
Because the cycle of book publication often takes two years, you’ll have to turn to periodicals and newspapers for current information. Most libraries have a periodical room for you to find out the most up-to-date information. Here you’ll discover a myriad of indexes: The Social Science Index, The Business Index, The Criminal Justice Periodical Index, The Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature, and an array of others, including newspaper indexes (The New York Times, The Washington Post, etc.). Indeed, libraries now have many of these indexes on computer, giving you direct access to them with the touch of a keyboard. Though each index presents its information differently, all are arranged, at the least, by topic. Thus, by searching appropriate indexes you can usually substantially update your research.
Of course, another key research tool is the Internet. It’s like having a world resource at your fingertips. By using any one of a number of search engines, you can mine for gold. However, some sites are put up by individuals whose research and credibility may not be tested. Stick with known names and companies or organizations for the most reliability.
Finally, never overlook the librarians, especially the research librarians. They can help you find almost anything, while introducing you to resources you’ve never imagined. If you expect to research and write on a regular basis, be sure to establish a friendly working relationship with the research librarians at the outset. You will earn their respect early on by doing your homework before talking to them. That is, before you ask a question, make sure you’ve already tried to solve the problem yourself. Always tell the librarians that you’ve checked this, that, and then this other thing—all to no avail. They will then know you’re not using them as a card catalogue and usually will go out of their way to help a fellow researcher. By doing your homework, you automatically build a bond of respect and trust with librarians.