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Step 1c: Researching in
the Library
 A
common misconception among students is that the library is full
of old, out-of-date, musty books -- probably none from this century
-- and therefore any books found there would be so out of step with
the current discussion on the topic that the books, and any effort
to retrieve them, would be utterly useless.
Fortunately, all libraries have acquisitions departments
with specialists from different fields of scholarship who constantly
order up-to-date books on the contemporary issues in almost all
fields. As a result, most libraries have books on all issues at
least within the last ten years or so. So unless you're writing
about something totally new, chances are a book has been written
on it, and most likely that book is waiting for you in the library.
Retrieving books saves energy
Another misconception many students have is that even if they were
to see a book listed on the electronic catalogs, it would be too
much of a hassle to physically go to the library, hike the stairs,
take elevators perhaps, wander among the stacks and corridors, skim
through eternal Library of Congress call numbers, and so on.
While it is true that the physical exertion required (i.e., walking)
to find the book is more than that required to click a mouse, once
you find the book, it requires less energy to progress through the
information than it does to fight the endless screens, non-linear
progressions, and specious content on the Internet. In contrast,
books are well-organized, logically progressive texts that usually
contain abundant research, are written by scholars, and will provide
excellent evidence for your essay.
The Internet is full of everything from porno to CIA reports, and
it's all jumbled together like paint splattered on a wall. You'll
have to sort through it like a homeless man foraging for food in
a dumpster. Think about how nice it would be instead to read a chapter
from a book while lying in bed.
Learn to skim books
Because books are so thorough and long (it may have taken the author
years to write it, as opposed to an online article, which might
have been written in under an hour), you have to learn to skim.
Skim the table of contents to see if there is a chapter that is
relevant. Read the introduction and the first pages of several chapters
to see if the information is really what you're looking for.
Since you will still need to cite from a variety of sources, don't
spend too long immersed in the same book. Take a little information
from a lot of different books -- from an author here, an author
there. It might be a good idea to photocopy the necessary pages
rather than cart around a backpack full of books.
Library as sanctuary
The more you spend time researching in the library, the more you
will come to see what a sanctuary the library can be. The loud,
noisy traffic of the streets outside is blocked out as you sit comfortably
surrounded by thousands of insightful books on important topics
throughout the ages. A library can be a sanctuary to you -- a place
to study, a place to escape your friends or other obligations, a
refuge of peace and quiet. A good library is the heart of any academic
institution, and the more time you spend in it, the more it will
feel like hallowed ground. One student at New York University even
decided
to sleep permanently in his university's library (only superficially
for financial reasons).
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