Library search (Cyberpunk RED)
Definition
Library Search is research: knowing where information lives, how a database is organized, which public records exist, and how to get from a name to a file. It covers physical archives and, far more often, the endless partially indexed data of the DataPool. At the table it is how a crew turns a fragment into a lead without leaving the safe house. Given a company name it produces a corporate structure, given an address it produces an owner, given a name it produces a history. This is normal, legal research rather than intrusion, which is exactly why it is useful: nothing about it trips an alarm or leaves a trace anyone will investigate.
How it works
Tips
Frequently asked questions
Is Library Search the same as hacking?
No. It uses information you are allowed to reach: archives, public records, the open DataPool. Getting into something protected is a Netrunner's job, and it leaves a trail that this does not.
How long does research take?
It depends on how buried the answer is. A public filing takes minutes, while a deliberately obscured ownership chain can take a day or more. GMs usually set the time alongside the DV.
Does the whole crew need it?
No, one researcher is normally enough. It pairs so well with Education, though, that the same character usually ends up carrying both for the group.