Reference Services Mission Statement

Reference Services Defined:

Reference services is defined as identifying a person's information need and fulfilling it accurately, efficiently, and pleasantly, using resources available in the library system and including referral to external resources, including HELIN consortium libraries.

Types of reference service offered:

The library employs eight reference librarians who are available to provide one-on-one research assistance in person, by phone, email, and on-line during most of the library's hours of operation.   The librarians help users select, operate and apply useful search techniques for the reference databases .

• Telephone reference:   401-865-2581.  Check the library reference hours or simply leave a message.
• Instant Messaging:     IM a PC Librarian [NEW!!]
  Chat with a Librarian from the comfort of your dorm room, McPhails or the 2^nd Floor of the library! Get research help, journal article and book availability, quick facts and more.   Add us to your buddy list: AIM/iChat/Yahoo Messenger – PCLibChat   MSN –  PCLibChat  @ hotmail.com.  Read more about our new IM a PC Librarian  service.
• E-mail reference:   Ask-a-librarian:
  The Providence College librarians provide e-mail reference assistance to students via the Ask-a-librarian service. Reference librarians answer questions via e-mail, providing responses within 24 hours. To use the service, students send an e-mail message to: reference@providence.edu
• Individual on-site reference:   Consult-a-librarian: [New service for fall 2003]. Librarians will provide individualized library instruction by appointment.
• Reference in the Classroom:   Library Instruction Program
  The library will provide, at the request of the professor, one or more classes on library research methods and materials for any course that has an assignment requiring significant library research.  Requests can be submitted via phone, fax or e-mail (Ext. 2580; Fax 2823; or e-mail<ebailey>).
• Reference using course management software: Angel
  Several of the reference librarians have volunteered to provide assistance to students using the Angel course management system.  In some instances, this includes teaching students about relevant library resources using the library's electronic classroom.  In other cases, it involves being available online to assist students.

Reference Librarians 

Janice Schuster, Coordinator of Reference Services and Reference Librarian
Edgar Bailey, Jr., Instruction Librarian and Reference Librarian
Connie Cameron, Coordinator of Web Services and Reference Librarian
William Anger, Jr., Part-time Reference Librarian
Heather Williamson, Part-time Reference Librarian

Reference Staff:
Lucille Riccitelli, Reference Assistant

Student Commons Assistants:
Laura Bucci
Chris Gubata
Mikaela Manning
Meaghan Doherty

revised 2 April 2009