When you want to find articles about topics in your area of interest, use the indexing databases (essentially, a huge, searchable bibliography of citations) for that subject.  Subjects have indexing tools specific to the subject, but don't forget to try out indexes that search across disciplines in order to maximize your ability to find materials.  Lots of things we'll own online, but for the things we do not own online, make sure to place a request for that item through Interlibrary Loan. 

To find books about a topic, try a Keyword search.

You can also do a Subject search (last name first) for books *about* a person (critical works) or an Author search (last name first) for books *by* a person.

Use Link+ and WorldCat to find books not available at the Libraries and request to have them sent to Honnold/Mudd Library for borrowing (FREE).