Preliminary research allows you to
develop an outline
start an argument
determine the sources you will use
locate basic information

  this riddles' answer is library.

  the "leaves" are a reference to the books' pages that the library contains; the branches are a network of libraries that connect multiple libraries' collections, resources, and items in a system of a common database, integrating them; the branches' organization are a useful management tool for coordinating the multiple collections many libraries have.

yes, elmers glue is non toxic. i called them a couple months and asked the same question. they said it was