Research Resources and Assistance from Paul Robeson Library
Read Time:3 Minute, 51 Second
As finals are ramping up, librarians at Paul Robeson are available to help students with their research. Subject specific librarians offer in person or online appointments to assist in all aspects of research and research projects from utilizing the databases to citing sources.
Zara Wilkinson, a reference and instruction librarian, gave a basis of what is offered, “We help people at every part of the research process from I don’t even have a project assigned and I just want to feel a little more in control when I do, to I’m completely done and I just want someone to help me figure out if I’m writing my bibliography correctly. We can’t, we can’t check it for accuracy, but we can help people figure out resources that can help them check that.”
The Rutgers library systems are home to hundreds of different databases with a myriad of focuses and specialities. With that, the librarians are aware of how daunting the research process can be even with tools built into the library website like QuickSearch, a search engine built into the library website that searches through the online and physical collections. That’s why they are available to students to make the process easier and more manageable.
Wilkinson assured this, “Knowing what to type in for your search terms, your keywords, is really important, but it’s really hard to get right on the first time. Librarians don’t even do that. We do a lot of iterative searching where we do trial and error; what search terms are more successful, what search terms are less successful. So we do a lot of searching in our professional life so it can really help students get oriented in that process.”
Samantha Kannegiser, a student success librarian, also explained how the librarians are available to help students become well versed in the research process and Rutgers’ large collection, “Online databases were kind of new when I was in college. So it wasn’t something like everyone just knew to search online. We were solely using books at the time. So I had a professor in my senior seminar who was like, okay, so you guys all know EPSCOhost, right? And everyone around me is nodding and I was like, what? So I went home and was furiously Googling stuff and really, I was up all night trying to figure out how to do research for this. But I, if I knew that I could have just gone into the library, seen that English librarian, and in 10 minutes, she would have had me ready to go. I wouldn’t have spent all night freaking out that I didn’t know anything that everyone else knew… When you think, oh my God, I’m the only person that doesn’t know this, you’re so not.”
Students can find a librarian specific to their major or research concentration through the Paul Robeson website and navigating towards the “Librarians in Camden” page. This provides a list of librarians, their contact information, and their area of expertise. On this page students can click on the librarian’s name to schedule an appointment through the website or reach out to them through their contact information.
Additionally, the library website provides a number of self service resources with research guides, citation management, copyright guidelines, and other online tutorials. Zara Wilkinson also makes it clear that while these independent resources are available, librarians are also able and willing to assist students over email if setting up a meeting is not an option for them:
“Our students live really busy lives and so librarians are available to make appointments, and sometimes into the evening, if that works best for students. We can do Zoom appointments, we can do phone if that works for people. I also often am very happy to just email back and forth with students and provide a lot of help that way.”
Student Jiliana Reyes shared her experience with the library’s research services, “I’m aware that the library has research help, but only because of an honors writing class I took freshman year. Honestly, I didn’t find it that helpful but it could just be because I wasn’t using it correctly and sometimes I’m too lazy to ask for help because it’s just too long of a process.”
For students looking for a quicker, independent service, the library chat feature is available on the website twenty-four/seven. Librarians and the library’s research assistance is completely free and flexible for students who are looking for any additional help or support during their school year.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
