University of Rhode Island

Picture of Library

University of Rhode Island Libraries University of Rhode Island Libraries
HELIN Catalog
E-Journals
Reference Databases
Internet Resources
User Guides
Library Skills Tutorial
Special Collections

   
University of Rhode Island Libraries Web Site Header

Libraries HomeLibrary hoursSite IndexContact Information

University Libraries

Last updated: 7/29/08

Reference

Reference librarians are available to assist library users in finding and evaluating information.

Reference Desks
Help in using the Libraries and their resources, print and electronic, is offered at the Reference Desks in the University Library, the URI Providence Campus Library, and the Pell Marine Science Library.

Answers to specific questions which can be found in standard reference sources are also provided.

Reference librarians also provide assistance through two major chat programs. On AIM and Yahoo!, the screen name is URILibrarian.

Reference Desk Hours & Phone Numbers

Summer 2008
See also Library Hours

University Library, Kingston • (401) 874-2653

Monday – Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday LIBRARY CLOSED
Sunday LIBRARY CLOSED

CCE Library, Providence • (401) 277-5130

Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday LIBRARY CLOSED
Sunday LIBRARY CLOSED

Pell Library, Narragansett • (401) 874-6161

Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday

No Reference Service

Sunday LIBRARY CLOSED

Hearing-impaired users may reach any Reference Desk through the Rhode Island Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-745-5555 (TTY).

Library orientations and instruction
Reference librarians offer library orientations and “bibliographic instruction” — sessions on methods of research, sources of information, and the evaluation of information. For more information, please see the Instruction Services page.

Library User Guides
Reference librarians also create User Guides to electronic databases and other Library materials.

Access to other libraries and their collections
If a library user needs a resource not owned by the URI Libraries or other libraries in the HELIN Consortium, a reference librarian can assist the user in determining which libraries have the resource.

When appropriate, the reference librarian will give the library user a letter of introduction to the other library. (Many libraries require such a letter for access, for example Brown University libraries or Roger Williams Law Library.)

Alternately, a reference librarian will instruct the library user in requesting the material through the Library’s Interlibrary Loan service.

Faculty and professional staff on continuing appointment may apply for a Consortium of Rhode Island Academic and Research Libraries (CRIARL) borrowing card. Please see the CRIARL Borrowing Card Policy for details.

Reference Student Assistants
Each semester the Reference Unit in the University Library, Kingston, employs a number of graduate students from the Graduate Scholl of Library and Information Studies. Reference Student Assistants assist in providing reference services, in teaching library instruction and information literacy, and with other projects as assigned. Students who are interested in employment as a Graduate Student Assistant should contact Robin Devin at rdevin@uri.edu or (401) 874-2128.

Contact information
The Head of Reference in Kingston is Robin Devin. She can be reached by e-mail at rdevin@uri.edu or by telephone at (401) 874-2128. For more information about reference services at CCE, please contact Joanna Burkhardt at (401) 277-5133 or jburkhardt@uri.edu. For reference services at the Pell Library, contact Roberta Doran at (401) 874-6546 or rdoran@gso.uri.edu.

University of Rhode Island Libraries

URI Logo


Copyright © 1994-2007 University of Rhode Island. All rights reserved. Disclaimer.