Tour Overview 2: Reference and Information Services 

Meet with a librarian in the research consulting area for in-depth reference assistance and instruction. Appointments are available on a walk-in or scheduled basis on the first floor during most of the hours the library is open. Make an appointment at the Service Desk.

A one-on-one appointment with the librarian begins with a reference interview to help you organize an effective search strategy. Librarians will teach you to navigate the library's homepage, select and use an electronic database or Internet search engine, find books, periodical articles and other published information, and evaluate your results. We encourage you to return for more help if needed.

When you need the help of a skilled information specialist, stop by the Service Desk or visit our Ask a Librarian link on the Helmke Library Homepage to meet us in person, contact us by e-mail or IM, or phone us at your convenience.

The reference collection includes both printed books and the library's many electronic databases & indexes. Materials designated in IUCAT as Reference are located on the first floor, and include general, humanities, and social sciences resources (with call numbers A-P and Z). Ready Reference materials at the Service Desk and Business Ready Reference are items frequently consulted by library users. Materials in the Science Reference Collection (with call numbers Q-Z) are located on the fourth floor. Reference books normally cannot be checked out.

If you are curious about your virtual information landscape at IPFW, visit our Information Literacy Tool Kits. This special Web site will help you become a more efficient information forager - a real informavore! Try out our self-paced, interactive tutorials, just two of the offerings in this teaching-learning environment.

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