The best place to begin is to check the nonfiction that has been published recently. The public library has the "Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature" and also "Books in Print". These sources will provide abstracts of articles written. Also check backlists of publishers either online or by requesting a catalog. Once you have decided on your topic the fun of researching can begin.
Whever possible you will want to use primary sources for your factual information. That can mean visiting a local university library, interviews, letter writing or emails to those who are experts in the field that can provide you with information. Gathering the facts can be fun detective work, but it is also the most time consuming element of your writing project.
Fortunately, for today's writer/researcher, living in the digital age is a real advantage. Many primary sources can be found on the Internet.
There are many archives on-line and are available through states and universities. These can often be accessed at no charge. The federal government's Archive Library and Information Center are available online. (http://www.nara.gov/alicl) The Library of Congress (www.loc.gov) has many primary documents available for viewing on the Internet. State archives can be found through a simple search engine such as http://www.google.com and typing in the states name and the word archives.
Many oral history sites are also compiled and available on the web. (http://history.rutgers.edu/oralhistory/o... Often, one website will contain a wealth of information for the researcher by following the links on the page. This will lead from one gold mine of information to another.
In addition too history sites, there are also sites in many other areas of interest. Geography, science, math, social history etc. Do not forget the make a list of all your sources which will need to be included in your bibliography.
Secondary sources, information already gathered by others, such as books, articles etc, is much easier to obtain. Reading enriches your writing and helps the writer locate and compile information on a topic. Always look in the bibliography page of the books you are using, this can often be a source of more information.
Librarians will also help you in your search for information. They know exactly how and where to locate facts and information. This is their job and they are experts at it. "The New York Public Library Book of How and Where to Look It Up" (Prentice Hall 1991) should be a resource in your professional reference library. It is an invaluable resource.
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