Books provide in-depth information on broad subject areas. Researchers use them when they need:
Note: Often a chapter or two, rather than the entire book, are all that you may need.
Go to Preston Library, take a cup of coffee, browse these books. Go to the Service Desk on the 5th floor and make free photocopies of relevant materials.
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Books are useful for background information and for getting an overview of your topic. While journal articles will have the latest research and developments, they are often focused on a very narrow aspect of a topic. So start your project by looking for books on your topic. Get an overview and learn about the terminology used to describe your topic. Once you have the "big picture" you can then use the engineering databases to find journal articles on your topic.