One of the first things you should do in preparing to conduct library research is review your assignment. Often, your professor will provide details to inform your research. For example, you may be asked to use a certain number and type of source (5 peer-reviewed articles). You may also find that you are not allowed to use certain information sources, such as Wikipedia or results from a Google search.
Think about where you should go to find the information you need. If you need books, use the library's catalog. If you need articles, select an appropriate database. You may also consider using discipline-specific databases.
Also be sure your research topic is appropriate in its scope for the assignment length. You want a topic that is not too broad. You also do not want a topic that is too narrow, as it could be difficult finding sources. See the "Using Background Information" section for more information on ensuring your topic scope is appropriate.