Library

Background Materials

Background materials provide information that is vital to a research project. These materials are used early on in the research process to focus, refine and provide background for a research topic. While they are very helpful, an entire paper should not be entirely based on background materials. Background materials should provide a jumping-off point for further research.

The next few pages will explore some of the background materials that are available in all libraries:

• Textbooks
• Encyclopedias
• Other reference books