- Who can use this service?
The Ask-a-Librarian service exists primarily
for the TAMU-CC Community. However, if Bell Library is
the only library that can answer a particular question,
our staff will handle that kind of question from the public.
Otherwise, we will recommend that members of the public
contact their local library.
- What kind of questions can I ask?
Questions that require brief answers or involve looking
up facts or figures. Some examples might be:
- What is the address of Microsoft's home office?
- What was the population of Texas in 1998?
- What is the name of my state representative?
Questions on how to find information on a topic:
- I need information on the history of Texas. Where do
I go first?
- I am doing a paper on drug abuse and children. What
databases should I use?
Questions on how to use the resources we have:
- I need to get into the databases from home. How do
I do that?
- What databases do I use to find books?
- Where do I begin to look for information on my paper?
- What kind of questions can't
I ask?
You may ask any kind of question. However, this service
does not provide:
- lists of citations from database or the online catalog
(although the librarian may suggest certain works or titles)
- detailed research on a topic
- full-text articles or documents
- advice on tax, legal, medical or other personal issues
- editing for bibliographies or research papers
- How quickly can I expect a response?
We will make our best effort to respond within 24 hours.
- What about confidentiality?
Requests are stored on the Bell Library e-mail system
for approximately 2 weeks in order to insure proper tracking
of questions. After two weeks, all messages are deleted.
The library does not maintain an archive of questions
associated with names of patrons requesting information
nor will it divulge the names of patrons and their questions.
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