The Bridge
Special Issue 2001/2002
Student Services
The Concordia Libraries
Need any help?
by Diane Sauvé
Library Instruction/Reference Librarian
CONFUSED : of persons, or the mind: amazed, perplexed, bewildered, disconcerted, etc. (Oxford English Dictionary)
If this is how you feel when having to find library resources for your papers and assignments, take advantage of one or several of the following services offered by the Concordia Libraries.
Workshops
This is what a student wrote last fall after attending a
library workshop: “Very useful workshop. Everyone should
take it. Teachers should publicize it in their classes. (I hope
they already do!). Compile a to do list for new students in
The Bridge. On it (essentials), 1) get ID card, 2) get locker,
3) sign up for library workshop, 4) get computer accounts.”
Attending a workshop is indeed a good investment of
your time when starting university studies. Most course
projects, assignments, papers will require that you get some
relevant information and research documentation on a topic.
Library workshops will allow you to become familiar with
strategies and search tools for finding this kind of material.
All our workshops are hands-on as they take place in a
library computer lab so you get to practice as you learn.
Here are examples of workshops offered:
- Intro to the Libraries: CLUES and our web site
- Searching for articles using databasesÑin library and from home
- Using the Internet for research
- Government information sources
The workshop schedule is available from the Libraries’ web site under “Help & Instruction.”
Library Tours and University Orientation
As part of the Discover Concordia Orientation, library
tours are offered at the beginning of the fall and winter
terms. Be sure to attend as these will provide you with an
overview of library resources and services.
Library Research Guide Tutorial
The Library Research Guide tutorial lets you learn how
to do library research at your own pace, on your own schedule.
The Guide consists of 6 sections:
- Selecting and Focusing a Topic
- Sources of Information
- Database Searching
- CLUES
- Indexes
- Internet
Outside Webster Library (J.W. McConnell Building)—Sir George Williams Campus
photograph from Marketing Communtications
You can also test your understanding through quizzes available at the end of each section. To access this Guide, connect to the Libraries’ web site, click on “Help & Instruction” and select “Library Research Guide.”
Information & Reference Desk
If you need help finding information on a particular topic
or using library search tools — whether printed or electronic
— don’t hesitate to ask at the Information & Reference
Desk. Librarians and staff members will be happy to help
you with your questions. During the fall and winter terms,
the Desk is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday,
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, and 12 noon to 5 p.m. on
Saturday and Sunday.
Outside Vanier Library—Loyola Campus
photograph by Susan Hart
Libraries’ Web Site
There are plenty of useful resources available from the
Libraries’ web site. This site
provides information on services and collections as well as
help guides and links to resources by subject area or document
type. Check it out! A few of the features are described
below.
Ask a Librarian: Electronic Reference
The “Ask a Librarian” electronic reference service
allows you to request help in finding and using library
resources and services using an online form that you can
access from our web site. This service is not designed to
answer questions that require extensive research but is there
to assist you in developing effective search strategies and
locating useful materials. To get to the form, connect to the
Libraries’ web site, click on
“Services” and select “Ask a Librarian.”
Subject Librarians
Each academic department in the University has a designated
subject librarian. If your question cannot be answered
from the Reference Desk, you will be referred to your sub-ject
librarian. A list of subject librarians with contact information
is available from the Libraries’ web site under “Library Info.”
Handouts
Many instructional handouts can be picked up in the
Libraries. Several are available on our web site, as well. A
few examples:
- Do it yourself circulation services
- How to find articles using indexes and abstracts
- Where to find film reviews
- How to find vidoes in CLUES
- How to find these & MBA papers
Remote Access
So you’re not on campus all day? As you have already
seen from the previous sections, many services and
resources are available from outside of the Libraries. For
example, you can access databases and electronic journals,
you can renew your books or put a hold on a book that is out
to another user, and you can request material not available
from our libraries using the Interlibrary Loans form. Check
our web site or drop by the library for more information.
