What do I do when I research

I use google when I am doing what I would call "casual" research, meaning I am trying to get a broad overview of a subject or obtain a quick answer to a specific question. When I am doing "serious" research, meaning I am finding sources for scholarly or research driven work that will be going to a larger audience (or to a teacher when I was a student),I stick to peer-reviewed journals from the academic databases. I have found that when I locate a book that is really pertient or helpful, the bibliography from that book can often be a great tool for finding other helpful and appropriate sources. If I am trying to get a very complete look on an subject, I will go to the hard copies of specific journals, and go through them looking for helpful items. I also depend on serendipity when I am looking through the shelves, so I am a bit distressed (but enjoy watching) the robotic retrieval system. Often, I get overwhelmed when I am researching a new subject.