Many libraries have their media cataloged electronically, but a few still use hard-copy card catalogs. They're arranged alphabetically and can be searched by author, title, and subject. If you have access to the Internet, some library catalogs can be searched from your own home.
From the Internet, you can browse the on-line bookstores like Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. Their inventories can be searched just like a library's catalog. Expect colorful flashy displays, and positive things said, because they want to sell their wares to you! You can order your media on-line if you like. I usually copy down the information and either get my stuff through the library or I take my order to my local bookstore. It helps them stay in business, and saves you the shipping and handling. People are using the Internet to the point that our next resource, Books in Print, is becoming obsolete.
When I was introduced to Books in Print, I was quite impressed. It was back in the early 1970s --long before the Internet got popular. Books in Print is a huge multi-volume set which catalogs all the books (of participating publshers) currently in print. Several volumes list the books by author, several by title and the rest by subject. I like the subject index because it's like having a ready-made research bibliography. Just photocopy a couple pages and start hunting your books. Books in Print is great for books, but, if you're wanting to do good research,you shouldn't neglect the periodicals (magazines and journals).
Periodicals are cataloged in indices. Indices are published annually or more often and by area of study. A periodical index is like using one index which covers years and years-worth of many periodicals. It tells you in what issue of what periodical you can find your article. It gives you the page numbers, author, and title of your article. Your task now, would be to find the periodical.
University libraries stock many professional journals and even popular magazines. Local libraries often stick to the popular stuff (written at a lower level, and often less accurate than the professional journals). Since periodicals are usually less durable than other media, many libraries don't want to loan theirs out. Often, they will copy articles and send them to you. You may have to do some hunting for periodical articles, but with the help of your librarians, you should be able to get what you need.
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