Research assistance will be provided in response to all forms of inquiry, including telephone, mail, and e-mail. Answering patron questions has priority over other staff assignments. There is no set limit to the amount of time which may be spent on a question, but staff should be cognizant of adhering to reasonable time limits and the needs of other patrons in relation to staff availability. Therefore, the staff member will decide when all reasonable sources have been exhausted. Staff should remind patrons of the availability of scheduling one-on-one training sessions.
Normally, staff will provide the answer to a question if the information is available in the Library’s resources. However, if determining the answer to a question requires reading and evaluating an extensive amount of text, the staff will gather the sources for the patron to use or, in the case of electronic databases; will train the patron in the use of the resource. In-depth research projects are beyond the purview of our reference service.
Answers to information requests will be returned in the most efficient way available within legal copyright limits. Unusual or unique circumstances will be taken into account when responding to information requests.
Adopted by the Board of Trustees January 11, 1999; Revised November 13, 2006; Updated June 14, 2010; Updated April 21, 2014; Updated March 25, 2015; Updated December 11, 2017