Asbestos is a generic term that refers to several silicate materials occurring naturally as fibrous rocks. Insignificant amounts of asbestos fiber can be found in ambient air, but this, and materials containing hard asbestos, usually do not create problems. Soft materials, however, can release high amounts of asbestos fibers into the air, and exposure to high levels of the fibers have been found to cause such diseases as asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other cancers. This guide is intended to assist those who wish to research the uses, dangers, and problems of asbestos. It is designed to provide the reader with a set of resources found in the Library of Congress that can be used to focus on the topic. The document lists the subject headings used by the Library of Congress in cataloging information on asbestos. It also contains citations of materials categorized as: (1) brief introductions; (2) basic texts; (3) additional titles; (4) handbooks and encyclopedias; (5) other bibliographies; (6) conference proceedings; (7) government publications; (8) abstracting and indexing services; (9) journal articles; (10) technical reports; and (11) additional sources of information. (TW)