Any research tips?

[HisWriter]

Hi all! I haven't been on here in a long time because I have to use a library computer and get limited time. I recently got a new computer but can't get internet yet. I have really missed participating here with all you good folks, so I hope that I can get internet soon!

In the mean time...I hope you don't mind me getting on just occasionally when I have a burning question! :) That burning question this time is: do any of you write the kind of nonfiction that you have to research for, and if you do, how do you find what you need?! :eek:

My favorite thing to write is nonfiction articles for children, especially with nature and science themes, but I have had terrible success with research! I can't afford to buy all the books I need right now, a public library system (at least mine) doesn't have the kind of detailed books I need, I'm nowhere near a good college library now since we moved, and I haven't had good success finding relevant, reputable articles on the Internet. Can anyone help, Pleeeeaaaase!!! :eek:

[David Meigs]

HisWriter,

I can relate to some of the frustrations you are having. I live on the hood canal with no neighbors in sight. Talk about the boondocks!

I hope you can gain access to the web soon, because it opens the door to the world. I see you are in Arlington. It’s been years, but if I remember right, it’s not far from Everett? I imagine they’d have a good sized library, or don’t they?

I spent a year studying the Catawba Indians, and the general history of early NC so I could get my ducks inline. In the end, my best source was not the library where each book seemed to regurgitate the same information as the next. I got my best info by writing to the Catawba tribe, museums, etc. I’ve never been to NC, but I feel I know it. Can you make the trip to Seattle and visit one of their science or nature “type” museums?

All my children have loved those nature and science channels. It’s amazing what interesting tidbits they pick up. I’d love to see what you come up with.

Best wishes for your project, !thumbsup!

David

[DrRita]

I'm sure Merry will be a big help on this one since she's a teacher. But I'm surprised your library doesn't order for you. If you find titles you want but your local library doesn't have, you can request them and the library will order the stuff for you from other libraries. It's the same as local borrowing, I've done it lots.

also check out this link http://www.libraryspot.com/ it might help.

[wgjones3]

When I was in college we used something called the KY Virtual Library (KYVL). Basically it was an electronic clearinghouse with academic articles (and many not-so-academic).

You can subscribe to a service like Looksmart.com and get similar results. But I would definately talk to the people at your library about ordering books. That's what you pay taxes for, isn't it?

[HisWriter]

Wow! This place has become more active since I was last on here regularly. I've never received replies so fast. Thanks!

Curmudgeon, yes, Arlington is near Everett, and Everett's library is pretty big, but I think you might have to pay for a library card because it's not in the county library system. I'll have to check into that. Visiting museums would be great, but that's beyond my family's budget right now. Oh also, we don't have TV so I can't even pick up information that way, not that I'm sorry not to have one!

DrRita & wgjones; yeah, I can order books and do all the time. What I meant was that I haven't been able to find the scientific-type books I need in the whole library system, that is, the whole network of county libraries.

For example, one of the projects I'm trying to work on, is an article about the relationship of the acacia tree to antelopes and other browsers on the African savanna. I can find lots of beautiful (but useless) coffee-table books and many safari field guides, but nothing with scientific information. Short of traveling to Africa and doing field research, I'm beginning to wonder if this is possible! And that's certainly never going to happen, at least not for many, many, many years! :)

Oh, and thanks for the link DrRita, it looks very helpful!

[FireFeet]

I'm gonna make a suggestion that will sound a bit odd...but it works for me. :p

I pray and ask God to provide the resources I need. And He has been faithful again and again to provide.

I was doing an article on rocks (Yes. Rocks. lol) and I went to the thrift store and for 50 cents I purchased a college textbook on geology with exactly the information I needed.

I was researching St. John of the Cross. At the time I was working at a thrift store, and within a week, we received two books...one a rare collection of the writings of St. John and the other a scholarly study about his life and commentary on his writings.

A friend and I occasionally make an out-of-town trip to a place called Half Price Books, and I make a detailed list of what I'm looking for, and 99% of the time, I get everything on the list.

I'll be thinking about an idea I want to study, and someone will come up to me at church and offer to loan me a book.

Etc etc etc. It absolutely blows my mind. :)

[HisWriter]

That's not odd at all! I too have had sooo many instances of God's wonderful provision for "small" things like that. Thanks for reminding me!

Thrift stores...yes, I had forgotten about that! Good idea!

[paulchernoch]

Once I have a title in mind, I can usually find it for really cheap using abebooks.com or one of the other online sources of used books. For example, I was researching legal systems of other countries and came across the four volume "Legal Systems of the World". The Boston Public library had it, but as a reference book I would not be allowed to take it from the library. I have 3 kids and cannot afford hours of time at the library. And at $550 for the set, it was well out of my price range. But I managed to find the individual volumes I needed at $20-$25 per book.

Other sites that will sell used books are amazon and barnesandnoble.

- Paul

[writegirl1949]

Yeah, I know, that's a lame title :rolleyes: BUT, I've found a wonderful way to gather current information about several subjects I'm researching for my next book. Also, because of the subject matter in my book coming out soon, I need to be on top of things.

I use Google News Alerts. I'm signed up for three different ones and I get daily emails with listings of news and other information on the web. Most of it comes from newspapers and magazines, some from scholastic type information being published, and occasionally I get a link to chat threads dealing with certain news-worthy subjects. Most of the time those are just radicals and fanatics spouting off :eek: but I still scan them.

The other neat thing is that when you start clicking on the links, many of them will have links to "related stories" you click on.

Over here in Germany we pay dearly for internet service so Google News Alerts saves me time. True, there may be other important info out there but at least I have a head start.

Hope this helps.

Blessings, Francine

[HisWriter]

Yeah, helps alot! Thanks! Google is my favorite search engine but I didn't know about the news alerts.

[venavino]

Oh, goody-- a local question! I'm across the "pond" from you in Port Townsend. Our library system subscribes to several databases that can be very helpful. I know ProQuest is funded by the state of WA, so you should have it, too. That one might not be helpful, but ask your library about what databases are available.

Also, I have found that ADDall.com has the most comprehesive collection of books available on the internet (it lists everything from half.com, abebooks, alibris and all the other big ones).

God bless your search!

--venavino

[Chiara]

I think I'd die without my internet access! Just one thing, however: just as you would with library books, use SEVERAL sources. As many as possible, in fact. And make sure they're as reliable of an authority as possible.

I'm a research fanatic (and worked in a state library during college), so it pains me to see just how much is written without solid, verifiable backing. Even well-known journalists and respected authors can accidentally jumble simple facts, so be cautious when quoting anyone who is reporting something second-hand.

With science, getting into the nitty-gritty sources can be even more problematic because most online journals require a fee to read what was published. That, and you have to have a pretty good science background to decipher the specialized jargon. But it really is worth the effort.

The best non-fiction (in my opinion) is about something that the author personally has experienced, or about which the author is an acknowleged expert. Once you find a topic in your life that fits either of those requirements, you're set!


Best,

Chiara

[whitehawke]

I just copied your statement...."relationship of the acacia tree to antelopes" into the search of my browser and came up with this link. Hope it helps.
http://www.nwf.org/internationalwildlife/1998/acacia.html
Rulan