Have you ever wondered how to get started writing a research paper or how you are supposed to find the right kind of resources that your instructor is expecting? Does it seem to take entirely too long to find the materials you need, time you’d rather spend on all the other activities you’re involved in on campus?
The best answer to all of these questions is to take advantage of the wide variety of library resources Wesleyan students have at their disposal. Library resources include both the librarians who work in the library as well as the research materials themselves. Librarians at Wesleyan are always glad to meet with students about their projects. They are available to work with you in a variety of ways – through reference by appointment meetings called Personal Research Sessions, IM/Chat, phone, and face-to-face at the reference desk in Olin or the Science and Art branch libraries.
When you meet one-on-one with a librarian subject specialist for a Personal Research Session, for example, you will learn to find the best resources and the fastest way to get them here and elsewhere, including books and journal articles that cover the latest information about your topic. Don’t want to leave your computer? Rain storm outside? Click on the Reference Live Help link on the library home page and IM a librarian. Looking for ways just to get started? Try the library’s subject and research guides. All these resources are located in the red “Help” section of the library home page, http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr. And as always, you can come to the reference desk on the main floor of Olin. The reference desk in Olin is staffed more than 45 hours a week, including evenings. Take advantage of it!