Background information is very useful when narrowing down your topic, or when first learning about your topic. Background research (or pre-search!) is the first step in the research process. Getting background information on your topic allows you to learn enough about your topic to decide which specific aspect of that topic you wish to focus on, and gives you enough information about your topic for you to be able to talk about your topic for about a minute without repeating yourself.
The best way to complete background research is to use a reference book!
The most famous of all encyclopedias is Wikipedia. Can't use Wikipedia, you say?! Wikipedia is a great place to gain background knowledge of a topic. You can use it for research but NOT as a resource. Here is a great video from North Carolina State University that tells you more about Wikipedia.
There is a right way and wrong way to use Wikipedia.
DO
DON'T
The library has access to many online encyclopedias. Online encyclopedia articles are a great way to find out more information about a topic you don't know much about--it's like using a scholarly version of Wikipedia! You can use the search bar to look for articles on the topic you are interested in. Many of the books listed in the reference section, are available online through Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Click on the picture below to get started. You may be asked to enter your BC email address and password.
For more directed searches, see the links below.