The guide is intended to explain and demonstrate by example how to use the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) system, especially to find information pertaining to Mexican Americans. An overview of ERIC and ERIC/CRESS (ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools) is given, noting definitions, potential users, types of materials included in the system, and how the system works. There is an explanation of how to use three ERIC reference tools: "Resources in Education", "Current Index to Journals in Education", and the "Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors". A step-by-step explanation of how to search the ERIC information system includes answers to frequently asked questions. The guide includes a list of descriptors and identifiers most often used to find information related to Mexican Americans, as well as a list of ERIC abbreviations, a glossary of ERIC vocabulary, a list of ERIC clearinghouses and their scopes, and ordering information. An alphabetical list of distributors and/or manufacturers of microfiche readers and microfiche reader-printers is included. (SB)