Building a Library Research Strategy

This page provides ideas for finding background or topic overview information. 

WHY DOES BACKGROUND INFORMATION MATTER?

Looking at background information can:

• Help you get a basic understanding or overview of your topic and providing foundational knowledge
• Help you identify important dates, places, themes, people, and other stakeholders
• Can be a good way to establish key words and/or search terms (start a list!)
• Remember that although it is helpful, instructors do not always consider reference resources a viable source for your research. Make sure you know how they feel about it before you cite these kinds of sources.

FIND BACKGROUND INFORMATION IN THESE SVC DATABASES:

Login with your MySVC/Canvas username and password

• Credo Reference (see tutorial on this page)

• Encyclopedia Britannica 

• Enciclopedia Universal en Español (Spanish Language version)

• Points of View Reference Center

Some instructors will allow you to use Wikipedia as a background source but make sure you check with them first!

1 minute tutorial from Credo database

Login with your MySVC/ Canvas username and password

• Using Pre-Research to Understand Your Topic