Find Help

Step Two: Email

Reference, Research and Government Information Services offers email reference service to faculty, students and staff of the University of Illinois. For more information about this service, please see the About the Ask a Librarian service page. Some departmental libraries also offer email reference assistance. Please refer to the departmental websites for more information.

What if I want to talk to a real person?

Step Three: Phone

Many libraries are able to assist with questions by telephone. Please refer to the departmental websites page for library hours and telephone numbers. The Information Desk (217-333-2290) in particular is designed to provide answers to quick reference questions and assist in the use of library resources such as I-Share Online and article databases.

As a service to patrons with disabilities, TTY phones are available in the following locations:

TDD users who need to make extensive use of a library not listed above may contact the Information Desk TTY.

What if I want to drop-in?

Step Four: Librarians' Office Hours 

The Undergraduate Library hosts Librarian's Office Hours during the semester to help students with the research process: topic selection, learning to search the online catalog and article databases, locating library materials, compiling effective bibliographies, and much more. 

If you need help with the writing portion of the research paper the Writers' Workshop, located in the Undergraduate Library, can help.

What if I want to spend time with a librarian?

Step Five: Personal research consultation

Librarians are also available to assist with the planning and execution of your research. If you are pursuing research in which the help of a subject specialist may be useful, please visit the relevant departmental library for your subject area. All departmental library websites contain information about the nature of their collections as well as the names and email addresses of librarians who can help with your research.

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