Author Jeff Lenburg Writes New Definitive, Nuts-and-Bolt Guide to Writing and Research

Award-winning celebrity biographer, entertainment historian, and author Jeff Lenburg, the author of 16 books, writes a new, exhaustive step-to-step guide to writing and research for students, businesspeople, and people of all ages

(PRWEB) February 26, 2006 -- With the vast explosion of growth of electronic technology, virtual libraries, the Internet, and traditional libraries, it’s not always easy to know what sources one should consult first or consider accurate. Planning to research a subject that interests but unsure where to begin or find the resources you need? Well, finally, one a new nuts-and-bolts guide offers everything you need to do research from start to finish.

Award-winning author Jeff Lenburg has penned the most comprehensive book on the subject, “The Facts On File Guide to Research” (Facts On File, $45.00, hardcover; $18.95, trade paperback). Called a “no frills, solid reference source” by the “School Library Journal,” this 592-page, easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide explains the process of doing research, from developing a subject or topic and planning research and a search strategy, to gathering information and evaluating sources, and much more.

As the author of 16 books, including several best-selling celebrity biographies, entertainment histories, and popular references, Lenburg has found the most important part of writing is finding credible and reliable research and sources of information.

“I’ve always enjoyed getting my hands dirty doing research,” Lenburg mused. “I liken it to being an archaeologist on an important dig. Half the fun is the hunt to unearth something rare, new, or that you never were unaware of or never knew existed.”

Lenburg, who also teaches writing courses at Arizona State University West in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a popular fixture on campus, said what inspired him to write the book was the fact many of his students didn’t fully understand how to research. “Their entire concept of researching a subject was surfing Yahoo! and Google, or other popular Internet search engines. As my book demonstrates, there are far more reputable resources, besides the Web, that one should check first. Many are available for free at your local public and college libraries that you can access.”

In writing this book, Lenburg said he consulted with countless library and trade association professionals, faculty members and instructors from other major universities and colleges, fellow researchers and authors, and a wide variety of other sources to delivery the most informative reference on the subject. “I owe much of the success of my book to these talented individuals, many who have devoted their entire lives to the study and practice of library science and research,” he said.

Written for students, businesspeople, and general readers of all ages needing to research and write research papers, articles, books, reports, essays, and class studies, besides discussing general methods to planning and conducting research, Lenburg meticulously details thousands of different sources of information and outlets of information available in the United States and throughout the world. Some of them include archives and archival collections; associations, societies, and organizations with research; biographical information; electronic databases with full-text articles; and electronic journals and newsgroups; general references (almanacs, bibliographies, periodical and newspaper indexes, yearbooks, and more); government agencies and publications, libraries (academic, government, public, school, research, special, and state libraries); newspapers, magazines, journals, and radio and television stations; and research on the Web on virtually any subject.

“No other book, to my knowledge, exhaustively details or provides access to such a plethora of sources in a single volume,” Lenburg noted.

Likewise, Lenburg’s book surveys the most recommended information sources by libraries and researchers, listing important research sources, such selected books and references, print and Web article indexes, periodicals and Web sites, to research any subject or field of interest, from aging to women’s studies. Valuable appendixes featuring style guides for APA, MLA, and “The Chicago Manual of Style” round out the volume.

“The Facts On File Guide to Research” by Jeff Lenburg is available through local and independent bookstores, including Barnes and Noble, Bookstar, and Borders, online retailers, such as Amazon.com, and national wholesalers, including Ingram Book Group and Baker and Taylor, or can be purchased from the publisher on the web at www.factsonfile.com.

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