If you’re a writer intending to publish your work, you will eventually need to develop research skills. Even the most beautiful, deft narrative pieces occasionally require the information and insight that only research can provide.

The Internet has made research easier than ever, providing information that’s no farther away than a keystroke or click of the mouse. But as an editor of two very different types of writing–academic and travel-related–I can confirm that the Internet also raises some serious concerns about its use for research purposes, regardless of the genre.

The concerns can be sorted into two main categories. First, there’s the problem of accuracy and reliability. Where are you getting your information? Where did your source get its information? How dated is the information, and is it possible for you to corroborate your findings? Are you checking multiple sources? And if so, how are you reconciling divergent facts? For instance, while working on an article about Juan Antonio Picasso last week, Francisco wanted to verify the date when Pablo Picasso’s grandfather arrived in Cuba. One source indicated 1846. Another reported the date as 1848. Still another gave a different year. Which source was right?

Second is the issue of legitimacy. What makes an Internet site legitimate? Wikipedia has become wildly popular as a source of information for writers in a variety of genres. While the site can provide a quick overview that gives you background information about a topic, Wikipedia is not a legitimate source. First, the pages are written by people you can’t identify and whose credentials are not substantiated. Second, the “sources” cited in Wikipedia articles are not always legitimate themselves. There’s primary research information and secondary research information. And then there’s tertiary research… and Wikipedia falls into that category.

So where and how does a writer begin to research a subject?

The answers to this question will depend upon the subject of your piece, the publication in which you’re aiming to place it, and your intended audience. The general tips and resources I provide here, though, are useful for many writing projects and should be added to your mental or electronic library.

-The Library of Congress: The bricks-and-mortar library has long been a place where academic researchers have ensconced themselves amongst stacks of books, documents, photographs, and other archival material. But you don’t need to visit Washington, D.C. to take advantage of the vast, impressive collection of the Library of Congress. An incredible amount of the LoC’s holdings have been digitized and are available–for free–online. You can even set up your own personalized virtual archive here.

If you’re doing historical research, American or otherwise, the LoC’s website is an excellent starting place for accessing primary source material.

-Questia: Questia is a virtual library with an extensive collection of full-text scholarly texts, journal articles, and magazine and newspaper articles on thousands of subjects, including history, business, social science, politics, and much more. All of the material is in English. While the service isn’t free–it’s membership based–writers who need to conduct research regularly will find Questia worthwhile.

-New York Public Library Database: The NYPL has 94 databases you can search from home… if you have a library card. If you don’t, reach out to an NYC friend and see if they might help you out. Database subjects range from the broad and comprehensive EBSCOhost (full-text journal and newspaper articles) to more subject-specific collections, including African American History, American Indian History, and the AP Multimedia Archive. There’s a database of 150 Chinese language journals and at least three Spanish language databases.

-Google Books: What Google lacks in design appeal, it more than makes up for in functionality and utility. When researching, don’t just Google; check Google Books, which offers both full-text and limited preview editions of popular and scholarly texts.

-Twitter and Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forums: Looking for information or opinions about a place from people who know it well? Travel writers, in particular, are using Twitter and other online forums and social networks, to survey other users, to line up interviews, or to search for contacts and information. These online communities can definitely expand the reach of your research.

What resources do you use when conducting research? Share your tips below!

Photo: andercismo
(Flickr creative commons)