Traditionally the academic library has been the repository for the archiving of books and journals for scientific research, also offering a place for reading and study. It is much more than that today. By making available large and readily searchable databases of books and publications, these libraries have come to offer researchers the capability to search the scientific literature with remarkable efficiency, retrieving relevant publications electronically when possible.

Indeed, retrieval of scientific information is increasingly being driven by electronic tools and information technology. While this development opens up new possibilities for the efficient search and retrieval of information, it does so in the face of a new problem: the amount of information available is vastly larger than what the individual human mind can process. It therefore is essential to access this superabundance of information in ways that actively supports the research. The options available nowadays could be bewildering, making it important to be aware of, and use, the right tools for gaining access to the appropriate information. Most academic libraries offer valuable assistance and suggestions through their websites. Moreover, typically the staff of these libraries have the expertise as well as the desire to offer advice and share their expertise with those seeking help.