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Finding the Information You Need — Research Tips for Your Family, Business, or Personal Pursuits

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SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Now that you're organized and ready to take notes, where do you start looking for information?

People

In many cases, the best source of information is a person. For example, your grandmother may know details of your family history that you'd never find in all the census records and genealogical libraries you could ever search, or a coworker may know of someone at a government agency who can help you solve a problem you're having.

When you're planning a vacation or choosing an appliance, you may find that recommendations of people you know are the most useful advice you can get.

And if you have a difficult legal situation, a tax or an accounting issue, or a specific medical problem, you should probably consult a lawyer, an accountant, or a doctor, respectively. Professionals study for years and must pass qualifying exams, and they still have to conduct extensive research for particular cases. You can't possibly expect to get this specialized information in your own research.

What you can learn from your research is what is appropriate for you to handle on your own, how to choose the best practitioner when you need one, and how best to work with the professional of your choice. If you're researching an illness or a medical problem, you can learn a great deal about your condition, self-care, common treatments, medications, and side effects — but only after you know what the problem is. You can't get the correct medical diagnosis unless you go to a physician.

Your Personal Library

You probably have a collection of books in your home, and you may be surprised at what treasures you discover once you start looking. And don't forget those old National Geographic magazines and other periodicals that you might have saved; they can be great resources.

If you have a book on the broad topic, skim through the table of contents for relevant chapters. The next place to look is in the index; again, scan for words related to the subject. Read and take notes on the appropriate sections or chapters. After you've found all you can in the book, take a look at the bibliography (if there is one) and make a note of any other books on your topic — you can look for these when you visit your local library.

Always check the publication date of any book you refer to, especially if you're researching anything that's time sensitive. A book published in 1970, for example, isn't going to be much help with research on using the Internet.

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