In addition answering questions
and leading workshops and instructional sessions, the Reference
Department offers several programs and services that can help you
in your research endeavors.
This service is intended to give you
some in-depth assistance in identifying and locating the resources
most useful for the project at hand. The outcome of a research
consultation may be a database search, an overview of relevant
electronic and print sources, or a conclusion to a particularly
difficult inquiry. A Research Consultation will require advanced
preparation by a Reference librarian; therefore we ask that you
request one at least three days in advance. You may request a
Research Consultation by filling out a form, either in person
(available at the Reference desk) or via
the web.
Whether you need to use materials not
held at Northwestern, or are travelling, the Reference Department
can help facilitate your visit to other libraries.
While most public libraries and college
libraries affiliated with state-sponsored institutions offer open
access to their facilities and general collections, private college
libraries and special libraries are likely to permit access only
with special permission or during certain hours. If you need to
visit a library that has access restrictions, a Reference librarian
can issue you an InfoPass (for libraries in the Chicago area)
or write a letter of introduction on your behalf. Please note
that an InfoPass or letter of introduction will only help to grant
you access to a library—it will not allow you to check out
materials.
Northwestern University has a special
arrangement with the University
of Chicago for access to its collections and borrowing privileges
for current students, faculty and staff. If you wish to check
out materials from the University of Chicago, you will need to
get a special borrower's card from the Northwestern University
Library Library
Privileges office before you go.
Because Northwestern is part of the CIC
(Committee on Institutional Cooperation, comprised of the universities
of the Big 10 athletic conference, plus the University of Chicago
and the University of Illinois at Chicago), NU students and faculty
may enter the main library at each member institution by showing
their WildCARDs. In addition, NU faculty will be granted borrowing
privileges at CIC libraries by obtaining a CIC Borrower's Card
from the Northwestern University Library Library
Privileges office.
Access policies at other libraries may
change from time to time. You may wish to check with Reference
staff in the Northwestern libraries before you go to make certain
you can access the materials you need when you need them.
While the Northwestern University
libraries are committed to offering a wide selection of electronic
databases and other research tools, you may find that your research
requires information from sources to which the libraries do not
subscribe. The Reference department can assist you in this situation
by performing a search of the Dialog Information Service, an online
collection of databases with particular strengths in business, patents
and trademarks, and the natural and applied sciences. Dialog searches
are offered on a cost-recovery basis; that is, you will be charged
for connect time and retrieval fees. A librarian can give you an
estimate in advance of what those charges may be. If you are interested
in having a librarian perform a Dialog search for you, please contact
Jeannette Moss at 847-491-2169 or by email at
j-moss@northwestern.edu
