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Reference & Research Services

Reference Services

referenceReference services begin in-person at the 1st floor Reference Desk, and continue online. Visit us either way, and we will help you find information, and connect you with the resources and services you need. 

Every Question Is Important

Last year we answered more than 5,000 questions.

type and number of questions answered at the reference desk, 2018-2019

Many of these were simple directional questions, such as: "where is the bathroom?" (1,413 questions), or questions about library policies, such as "how long can I check-out a book?" (587 questions). And because we have a computer lab in front of the reference desk, we also answer a lot of printing and technology-related questions (1,442 questions).

We believe all of these questions are important opportunities, because simple directional questions may be a stepping-stone to seeking help with more complex questions.

Answering Reference Questions

We especially enjoy answering reference questions (1,923 questions), where we can connect people with information sources, and teach how to use them. 

Here are some examples of real reference questions that we answered at the Reference Desk last year:


"I am doing research on gender-inclusive housing, specifically how it contributes to a sense of belonging."


  • Im looking for articles on obstetrics written by a nurse in the last 5 years.
  • I'm researching the company structure of Red Bull GmbH.
  • I need statistics on firearms use and gun control; I'm researching weapons bans.
  • I'm looking for books on the art of Leonardo Da Vinci.
  • I'm searching for the numbers of different types of businesses operating in San Francisco.
  • I'm researching loneliness among college students and exercise as an intervention.
  • I'm looking for books with commentary on the Gospel of John
  • How do I evaluate physiology journals? How do I know which ones are more reputable?
  • In women with uncomplicated pregnancies, do non-pharmacological interventions such as CAM therapy provide more pain relief and less fetal distress than pharmacological interventions during labor?

And those are just the easy ones!

how people contact us: percentage graph

In-Person or Online

Most of the reference questions we answer come from people visiting the Reference Desk in-person (51%) and via Instant Message (32%). We also answer reference questions via email (9%), phone (7%), and text message (1%). 

We provide 24/7 online reference via instant message so students can seek help with their research at any time.

Reference Collections

""Reference books (such as encyclopedias) have moved from print to online, and are more popular than ever. 

For the same reasons Wikipedia (the free online encyclopedia) is among the most popular of all websites, Gale eBooks (the Library's biggest online encyclopedia collection) is among the most popular of all of our databases. 

Evolving Collections

Reference works are evolving, and not simply by moving online. Classic works with storied histories such as the OED (Oxford English Dictionary) are now continuously updated online; new works such as the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy operate under an open access model; and some encyclopedias such as eLS (Encyclopedia of Life Sciences) are peer-reviewed in the same manner of scholarly journals.

See Encyclopedias and Other Reference Sources to view highlights of our online reference collection.

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