This document is one of a series describing the background, functions, and utilization of the Regional Information System (RIS) developed by the Michigan-Ohio Regional Educational Laboratory (MOREL). The purpose of this manual is to detail a procedure for performing a productive search of information resources which can satisfy the informational needs of educators. The focus of the manual is upon the individual researcher, but the methodology and materials delineated could be used within an organization as well. The manual is divided into two general sections. Chapter One discusses the searching procedure, covering definition of the question, the information searching procedure, and the bibliographic chain. A search procedure form and a model of the searching process are also included. Chapter Two deals in more detail with the various informational formats included in the bibliographic chain. Specific resources are listed and annotated, including human, institutional, and printed resources and information agencies. The concluding section of the manual provides a listing of existing sources of these resources, the suggested contents of a basic educational reference collection, and a keyword index. A selected bibliography of 14 items on the searching procedure is appended. (Author/JB)