Adopted February, 2013
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ the Service
The A. C. Clark Library’s Email Reference Service is provided by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Library faculty to serve the informational needs of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ students, faculty, staff and members of the surrounding community. Priority will be given to questions from current Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ students, faculty and staff.
Service Guidelines
- The email reference service gives starting points for research, as well as advice on search strategies. It does not give in-depth research assistance or homework advice.
- Users will be referred when possible to print, electronic or other resources and services of the A. C. Clark Library.
- If you need in-depth research assistance, please visit the library during our Reference Desk’s service hours or call the Information Desk at 218-755-3345, and ask for a Reference Librarian.
Hours of Operation and Turn-around Time
- Users of the service can submit questions at any time, except during extended break periods when the A. C. Clark Library is closed.
- Librarians respond to email requests only during normal weekday business hours– Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The Library will try to respond to email requests within 24 hours during a typical work week.
- The service is not staffed on weekday nights, weekends, holidays or during other periods when the campus or Library may be closed; however, users may still submit questions during these times (except extended break periods).
- Questions received during the weekend or holidays will be treated as if received on the first weekday that the Library re-opens for service. Questions received on a weeknight are answered the following morning.
Types of Questions Answered by the Service
- Questions on where to begin research on a topic, as well as advice on search strategies
- Questions about A. C. Clark Library services and facilities
- Questions about the Library home page
- Questions regarding off-campus access to the Library’s electronic resources
Types of Questions not Answered by the Service
- Requests for homework assistance, or interpretation of course assignments
- Requests for medical or legal advice
- Questions requiring in-depth research assistance may be directed to the Reference Desk during our Reference Desk’s service hours or call the Information Desk at 218-755-3345, and ask for a Reference Librarian.
Service Referrals
- Questions regarding other units of the A. C. Clark Library will be routed as appropriate. Contact information for units within the Library.
- If you have questions about Interlibrary Loan services, your questions may be answered on the Interlibrary Loan page.
- If you have questions about the University Archives, please email libraryreference@bemidjistate.edu.
- If you have questions about Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, your questions may be answered by the . Questions about the A. C. Clark Library may be answered by the Library home page.
- Questions about the status of your borrowing privileges and/or fines/blocks on your Library account can be called in to the Circulation Desk at (218) 755-3345, during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., M-F).
If you Need more Information
Please call the Information Desk at 218-755-3345.
To submit your question via email, go to the Ask a Question page.
Note: Adapted in part from Email Reference Service Policy page.