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The Reference Department's primary goal is to support the educational and research functions of the university by assisting students, faculty, and staff in meeting their curricular, research, and general information needs. As much as possible, services are also provided to persons not affiliated with UNCW. In providing the services discussed below, reference librarians attempt to educate users concerning library research techniques, therefore encouraging independent use of this and other libraries. Reference librarians treat all requests in a serious and professional manner and do not discuss any aspect of a reference transaction with others except in a professional context.

Reference services include personal assistance provided to users in pursuit of information, online database searching (including access to the Internet), and indirect reference services such as reference collection development. Reference librarians also participate in the Library's instructional services program.

Reference Desk

Library users are encouraged to use the Reference Desk for direct personal assistance with their information needs. Users are assisted on a first-come first-served basis; however, at busy times, persons affiliated with UNCW are given priority over those not affiliated with UNCW and in-person requests have precedence over telephone requests.

Telephone reference assistance is available for "ready reference" or brief answer types of questions. These questions can also be submitted on the university computer system by sending an electronic mail message to LIBREF. Replies to electronic mail can be expected within 24 hours.

Internet Service

The Reference Department provides workstations for public access to the Internet World Wide Web. A home page is maintained as a web site to provide access to other sites determined to be of interest to the UNCW community. Internet services to which the library subscribes are accessible through these links in accordance with licensing agreements. For example, several databases published by Cambridge Scientific Abstracts are searchable on the Library's Internet workstations. Guidelines for the use of this service are available at each workstation and at the Reference Desk.

Mediated Database Search Service

In addition to the CD-ROM databases available for patron use, the Reference Department also provides a mediated search service. This service provides access to remote commercial database services, i.e., Dialog Information Service, EPIC (OCLC) and STN (American Chemical Society). Because these services charge the Library for connect-time and records printed, and because familiarity with the command languages is important for cost-effectiveness, librarians conduct these searches. Request forms for this service are available at the Reference Desk.

At the reference librarians' discretion, and with certain limitations, searches will be provided to UNCW students, faculty, and staff at no charge. Search charges which exceed the limitations specified in the Online Search Services guidelines may be charged to the individual's account. With proper authorization, fees may be charged to departmental or grant accounts.

For users not affiliated with UNCW, a 15% surcharge is added to the total cost of a mediated search. These searches are performed only if the demand for other reference services has been met, and a librarian is able to schedule this additional service.

For more information about this service, see the publication "Reference Services: Online Search Services," available at the Reference Desk.

Collection Development

The Reference Department maintains an up-to-date collection of reference sources, e.g., encyclopedias, dictionaries, statistical sources, atlases, bibliographies, and indexes which reflect the curricular and general information needs of the university community. The Reference Department also maintains the Library's holdings in electronic format, including CD-ROM database holdings.

Questions about this policy maybe addressed to Beth Roberts, Library Secretary.

Policy Last Updated:

Last Update: December 12, 2005