Reference
There are a number of ways to work with the library to find information and improve your research.
- Visit or call the library any time during staffed hours to ask questions about finding relevant materials such as books and articles. This is best for relatively simple or general questions that can be answered in a short conversation.
- Schedule a consultation with your liaison librarian to go in-depth with a research question or build your library search skills. Consultations are typically scheduled for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the information need.
- Email your liaison librarian directly to ask questions about the library’s collection, search strategies, etc.
Preparation for a Research Consultation
You don’t need to do much to prepare for a research consultation with your librarian, but you can expect a few questions about your work so far to start the conversation:
- Where have you looked for information so far?
- This is good to know so we can target the session toward what would be most helpful for you.
- What search techniques have you used so far?
- This helps us identify what techniques may have worked well (or not well!) and have a place to start.
- What is your research question?
- The research question guides what type of information we look for and where we look for it.
- What is the goal of this research?
- For instance, if it’s part of coursework, what are the assignment expectations and requirements? If you intend to publish the research, what type of publication are you aiming for?
Who Would Benefit from a Research Consultation?
Most people! The Library’s resources are sometimes challenging to navigate, especially for those with limited experience using scholarly resources or those with complex research questions. We recommend research consultations for everyone, from new students to experienced faculty members. A research consultation is tailored to your needs, so is useful regardless of your existing expertise.
