Library Invested In Student Success

To the Editors:

Every spring, the same year-end panic descends on Oberlin students as they try desperately to complete 500 pages of reading, write three 10-page papers, and study for a calculus exam in the space of approximately one week. Some people indulge in this sort of thing on a regular basis and enjoy it; however, you’ve never met any of these people because they inhabit a distant planet known as Mars.
Classes end May 11, Reading Period is May 12-15, and exams start May 16. Now, I graduated in 2001, but unless more has changed than I realize, those dates mean a lot of work for your average student. In consideration of these dates, ask yourself the following question: “Do I really have precious time to spend searching through complex databases and getting frustrated, throwing my hands up in despair at the vagaries of OBIS, and searching like mad in futile attempts at tracking down random citations and references?”
If the answer is yes, that’s wonderful. If the answer is no, take heart, and take my suggestion: get fast and friendily assistance at the library. Reference librarians are highly trained and ready to help you find articles, books, and information in general. Library reference staff are friendly and efficient, and our primary reason for being at the library is to facilitate ‘information getting to you, the patrons. We take quick questions at the reference desk, which can save you time and energy. Ask us anything you like. Find out where a book is, where a journal article lives, or how to request something from OhioLINK or InterLibrary Loan. We also take requests for individual appointments to work one-on-one with a reference librarian on a particular paper or project. (Time for this particular service is running low, but, nothing is impossible.)
We want you to succeed academically. One of the best ways for us to contribute to your academic success is for you to visit us at the Reference Desk in the Main, Science, Art, or Conservatory Library. For Mudd reference hours, visit www.oberlin.edu/library and choose “Hours.” For branch library reference hours, check at the ‘individual libraries or phone Art at x8635, Science at x8310, or the Conservatory at x8280. You can also utilize our electronic reference. Go to www.oberlin.edu/library and click “Ask a Librarian.” We generally are able to answer your question by the morning of the next business day. It’s that easy. Let us help you save YOUR time and energy!

–Alita Pierson
Library Diversity Graduate Intern