If you’re new to using library resources, can’t find the right source for your paper, need a demonstration of a databases, need help tracking an obscure article, or have any other questions that require a little extra help, Lupton Library offers one-on-one research help to students and faculty. You may request a research appointment online or, if you want to work with a specific librarian, contact him or her directly.
To help us help you, there are some things you can consider before meeting with a librarian. First, let us know what topic or question you are researching when you contact us. This gives librarians an opportunity to do some preliminary searching and prepare for the meeting. A big part of a research appointment involves discussion of your level of understanding of the subject you’re researching and where you are having problems. We may also ask about sources you have already found, ask about your specific assignment, and other questions to determine how best to help you.
During the research appointment, a librarian provides efficient search strategies and may consult resources you haven’t used before such as: books, subject-specific databases, online resources, reference books, online books, Google Scholar, and more. If you’re searching a library database, librarians will probably explore search options with which you might not be familiar such as identifying subject terms, using the “Get It@UTC” link to find full-text, differentiating peer-reviewed articles from other source types, or using interlibrary loan to obtain sources the library does not own. These skills are not only useful for the work you have now, but will help you throughout your time at UTC. Of course, these one-on-one meetings also give librarians a chance to build relationships with students and faculty for future consultation and collaboration.
During the 2009-2010 school year, there were a total of 147 one-on-one consultations — which translates to roughly 113 hours. This represents help with a wide variety of subjects at all course levels including anthropology, business, criminal justice, education, english, health and human performance, geography, history, nursing, philosophy, political science, social work, sociology, and more. Don’t let research get the best of you: ask a librarian!
image credit: Mark Holloway, licensed through Creative Commons