If you aren't sure where to start, try the OneSearch bar on the library's main page. This will search through many (but not all) of the library's databases. Don't discount books and ebooks, either - You don't have to read the whole thing, but take a look at the table of contents to locate chapters that might be relevant to your topic. Some of the library's databases are not available in the OneSearch, so it may be worth investigating some databases individually.

If at first you don't succeed, try different keywords! Use a thesaurus, try similar subjects, and examine keywords listed in other items for related terms. If your topic is too narrow, you may need to broaden it. If your topic uses a specific term (for example, a medical condition), look up any variations that are used by professionals or the general public. Make a note of which seem to be used most often in case you need to redo a search elsewhere. Don’t hesitate to ask a professor or a librarian for suggestions.

You can also try searching Google Scholar. Look for the links that have something like [PDF] or [HTML] to the right of the title - These articles are generally free to access. If you find the perfect article that isn't available, you can try requesting it from another library through interlibrary loan.