How do you find good information in a library?

Im going to a reference library today to look for information. But i have no idea where to begin. I'm writing a essay about how NAFTA benefitted Canada and need 1 primary source, and 4 secondary sources. All of which must be books. Problem is, i dont know how to find good information at a library. I know of the deuy decimal system, but apart from that i have no idea where im going to look once i arrive at the library in 2 hours.How do you find good information in a library?You didn't say if you were in college or not, which is an important distinction. If you are in college, you will be likely working with the Library of Congress Classification system, which is entirely different from Dewey. For NAFTA material, I would suggest looking at material in H which is for Social Sciences - HF deals with commerce. You'll want to look at international trade, commerce, free trade, and trade policy as possible keywords. If you are using a public library with Dewey - concentrate in the 300's.



Even though the catalog is the best way to find your material, you'll want to be aware of something called WorldCat for future reference. WorldCat is a global catalog which includes material from libraries across the country/globally. What's good about this resource is that you can do a search and limit it much like your library catalog - the difference is that you get to see what is available beyond your library if you choose to do an inter-library loan. If there is a resource that you're particularly interested in, WorldCat will tell you if your library holds it.



In any case, if you end up needing more help, ask your librarian - they are there to help.