Why use books?  Books can...

• can give you an in-depth analysis to help you understand the complexity of your topic
• can give you a historical perspective to see how your topic has evolved over time
• are often written by authors who are experts or who have take the time to do research on a particular subject

How to use a book effectively?

• you do NOT have to read the whole book! Instead look at the table of contents in the front to find which chapters will be most helpful to you
• look in the back of the book.  Often there is a list of sources that the author consulted when he or she wrote the book.  You might want to use these sources for your research, too!

Search for online and hardcopy books 

1. FIRST: Try broad search words relating to your topic, such as:

2.  NEXT: Try a new search.  Add words to narrow your search, such as:

• Example searches:
  genetically modified food labeling
  genetically modified food safety
  genetically modified food hunger
   

3.  ALSO: Brainstorm synonyms or related terms for search words

• Example: hunger- food supply, food security, famine, malnutrition
   
• Example searches:
  • genetically modified food famine
  • genetically modified hunger
  • genetically modified food malnutrition

4. FINALLY refine your results by source type =  "books" 
(see image below)

Note: You can request that books be sent to the Kent, Enumclaw or Auburn SBAC campuses from the Holman Library)

Strategies for Holman library One Search

(click image below to enlarge)