Of all the resources available in a library, the most useful—and often the least used—are the people who staff it. Librarians thrive on helping you. If you’re not sure how to start a search, if you’re not successful in your first attempts at retrieving information, or if you just need some ideas about what you might try as you pursue a research project, ask a librarian. Librarians are information experts who are trained to assist and guide you to the resources you need. The librarians who work in the reference area or supervise the computer stations might look busy, but they are busy helping people with projects much like yours, and you are not interrupting when you ask for assistance. Remember the 20-minute rule: If you have been working diligently on a research project for 20 minutes and haven’t found what you need, stop and ask a librarian for help. Let the librarian know what searches you’ve tried, and he or she will be able to help you figure out new strategies to get to the information you need.

You can contact a reference librarian in several ways. If you query by e-mail, you are likely to receive a quick reply. You can also call the reference desk to ask a question, such as “Do you have a copy of the report Problems with the Presidential Gifts System?” You can have a “live chat” online with a library staffer in real time, and you can always visit the reference desk in person or make an appointment for a tutorial or consultation. (Hint: You will be most successful if you bring a copy of your assignment and any written instructions you have to your meeting. Tell the librarian what, if anything, you have tried.) Remember that there are no silly questions. A good librarian will treat your inquiries with respect.

The information professionals at your library are authorities on how to find information. They not only know where to find it, but they also have the wonderful ability to help you use information to meet your needs, solve problems, provide explanations, open up new possibilities, and ultimately create new knowledge.