This section is about how to add important details to the questions you Ask Us! at the library. Read the article then do the activity below.
Read your assignment thoroughly and make sure you understand the task itself and the type of resources you need.
Talk to your instructor if you have questions about the assignment and ask the library for guidance about searching and citations. The sooner you start your project, the more time there is to get library support and to gather resources. Sometimes, you will need books or articles sent over from other libraries and it can take a few days for those items to arrive.
When you contact the library, tell us a bit about your class, how you want to use the information, and where you have searched so far. This helps us to know where you are in the process and what you need next. Even if your question isn't about research or the library, giving us a bit of context will help us point you in the right direction.
Here are some examples:
"Hello, this is Jasmine. I need to find 3 sources about the female characters in Frankenstein. My assignment is for ENG 112 and it says I can use books or articles, as long as they are scholarly. How do I know if a source is scholarly? I missed the in-class library session and I’m not sure where to start."
"Hi, my name is Kamal and I’m working on a 4-page essay for Sociology 200. I’m looking for 3-5 peer-reviewed articles about how social media influences teenagers’ mental health. My professor said I need to use a library database but I don’t remember what that is. I’ve tried using Google but the articles seem to be behind paywalls.”
"Hello, I've been feeling really stressed lately and I want to talk to someone. I hear Concordia has a peer support team or a counselor or something, how do I get in touch with them?"
Once you ask us your question, we will probably ask you a few in return.
For example, if you have used a library database and what search terms you have tried so far. This helps us to identify the tools and strategies we can suggest to help you find more relevant resources. If our tips don’t work out, please keep coming back and ask again!
Library staff cannot interpret your assignment for you, do research on your behalf, or proofread your writing and citations.
What we can do is provide guidance on where to search, how to search, how to cite, and how to evaluate the sources you find. It may feel uncomfortable at first to ask library staff for help but the more you do it, the easier it gets!
Our thanks to Naomi Lederer and Colorado State University Libraries for permission to adapt material from their guide to Asking Good Research/Reference Questions