Help with the Library, and with Research
Why It's a Good Idea Research is never done in a vacuum. Open any scholarly book on our shelves and you'll see that it starts with an acknowledgements page--researchers create or avail themselves to professional networks to get their work done. The SLU Community is a network of researchers, at different stages and with different interests, but a network all the same. Students need to avail themselves to this network to get their work done.
Who Is Here to Help The Librarians are online. We have three options for asking questions and getting help electronically.
Ask A Reference Question to address specific inquires--such has finding the citation for a book, getting background information on a person place or thing, or for a recommendation on specific sources.
Plan A Research Project is appropriate for getting help with planning a research project. The goal of these consultations is to acquaint students with print and electronic resources best suited for a research endeavor. Consultations generally go fifteen to thirty minutes. (A full description of what consultations are is available here.)
Seeing Us The Librarians are specifically tasked with being available to help any and all members of the SLU Community with their research. Our reference desk is staffed Monday through Friday, and the Reference Librarians have offices in public areas of both ODY and LSL, (walking in and asking a question is perfectly acceptable!)
In ODY
Rhonda Courtney is the Access Services Librarian. Her office is in the ODY Reference Area, her telephone number is 229-5479. Rhonda works with students from across the disciplines.
Paul Doty is the Electronic Services Librarian. His office is in the ODY Reference Area, and his telephone number is 229-5483. His e-mail is pdoty@stlawu.edu, and Paul checks his e-mail in the evenings, and on weekends. Like Rhonda Paul works with students from all the disciplines.
Joan Larsen is the Director of Research Instruction and works extensively with students in the First-Year Program, as well as with students in all disciplines. Her office is in the ODY Reference Area. Her phone number is 229-5473 and her e-mail address is jlarsen@stlawu.edu
Mark McMurray is the Curator of Special Collections and the University Archivist. Mark works with students who wish to use our rare book or manuscript collections, or wish to use the university archives. He can be reached at 229-5476 or mcm@stlawu.edu.
In LSL
Eric Williams-Bergen is our Science Librarian. His office is in Launders Science Library, and he is available during business hours during the week. His telephone number is 229-5405, and he is available through e-mail at ewilliamsbergen@stlawu.edu. Eric checks his e-mail in the evenings, and on weekends. Eric works primarily with students doing science research.
(Complete information on the Library Staff is available here.)
The WORD Studio (The Munn Center for Rhetoric and Communication)
The Munn Center for Rhetoric and Communication helps support the university's mission to have every student read, write, speak, listen, and do research well. The Munn Center is made up of several different workspaces, one of which is the WORD Studio in ODY.
The "WORD" in WORD Studio stands for Writing, Oral communication, Research, and visual Design, and peer tutors can help with these components of an assignment, no matter what the assignment.
WORD Studio tutors have been trained to approach papers, presentations, and projects thoughtfully and to communicate their constructive comments clearly in order to help students become a better writers, speakers, and researchers.
