Steen Library offers Ask-A-Librarian service to help students with their research needs, often under-utilized
By: Chad Lyons
Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: News
ervices that will help students with their academic needs.
One of the most helpful, yet under-utilized, services is Ask-A-Librarian, which is located on the first floor of the Steen Library. The Ask-A-Librarian service allows students to directly ask a librarian anything from directions around campus to specific research questions.
Librarian R. Philip Reynolds said the problem most students have with their searches is poor task definition, meaning they either don't know exactly what they're looking for or they don't know how to express what they're looking for. The librarians can help students with both of these problems and drastically decrease the time a student normally spends trying to find information on a subject.
Reynolds also dispelled the rumor that librarians are only helpful when dealing with books. The SFA librarians, most of whom have been helping students for at least 10 years, are technologically savvy and are able to locate the top databases for just about any subject.
Ask-A-Librarian can also be accessed on the Internet via the Steen Library Web site at libweb.sfasu.edu. This Web site also allows students to e-mail a particular librarian who specializes in a certain field and can usually expect a reply within 24
hours.
For students who feel more comfortable meeting with someone face to face, librarians can usually be located at the desk or in the office from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, and at varying times on the weekends.
For students who struggle with research papers or locating databases, Ask-A-Librarian is an invaluable source.
"It's not about wanting a book or a database, it's about wanting information," Reynolds said.
One of the most helpful, yet under-utilized, services is Ask-A-Librarian, which is located on the first floor of the Steen Library. The Ask-A-Librarian service allows students to directly ask a librarian anything from directions around campus to specific research questions.
Librarian R. Philip Reynolds said the problem most students have with their searches is poor task definition, meaning they either don't know exactly what they're looking for or they don't know how to express what they're looking for. The librarians can help students with both of these problems and drastically decrease the time a student normally spends trying to find information on a subject.
Reynolds also dispelled the rumor that librarians are only helpful when dealing with books. The SFA librarians, most of whom have been helping students for at least 10 years, are technologically savvy and are able to locate the top databases for just about any subject.
Ask-A-Librarian can also be accessed on the Internet via the Steen Library Web site at libweb.sfasu.edu. This Web site also allows students to e-mail a particular librarian who specializes in a certain field and can usually expect a reply within 24
hours.
For students who feel more comfortable meeting with someone face to face, librarians can usually be located at the desk or in the office from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, and at varying times on the weekends.
For students who struggle with research papers or locating databases, Ask-A-Librarian is an invaluable source.
"It's not about wanting a book or a database, it's about wanting information," Reynolds said.
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