Reference
Support: Locating Reference Material
We DO give personal assistance. Please
ASK for it at the Reference Desk, located
in the reference room on the first
floor of the Smith Library Center.
Reference librarians can help you find
information on particular topics, search
printed and electronic sources, and
use the Internet. They can also answer
questions about the services and resources
of the Smith Library Center. (Click
here for library hours.) While
we cannot come to your dorm room, we
have also developed an Ask-a-Librarian email
Reference Service. Please note:
asking a reference question through
email is not recommended if your question
involves detailed or extensive research.
Reference
Collection
Reference sources are works that are
designed to be consulted for specific
information, rather than read cover
to cover. They can be enormously helpful
for a wide range of uses including:
- Extensive biographical sources
- Directories and other
sources of addresses for institutions,
agencies, and businesses
- Background
information:general and subject-specific
encyclopedias
- Indexes
to periodical literature in
various subject areas,
both in print and via electronic databases
- Statistics
- Bibliographies that
may provide a list of additional
reading
materials
Finding
Print Reference Sources
To locate print reference sources,
search the online
catalog by choosing "Reference
Materials" from the main menu,
and then entering keyword to describe
your topic. You can also check the
library's Subject
Guides for specific topics to find
recommended reference sources.
Finding
Online Reference Sites
A number of libraries and other organizations
have created links to online reference
sources. You can link to some of these
sites from the library's reference
page.
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