General Information

Reference specialists are available at the Founders Reference Desk and in the branch libraries to help researchers locate information and data. Every effort is made to provide patrons access to current and retrospective information in print and electronic formats. Reference staff members help patrons locate material in campus libraries and research centers, regionally and worldwide.

In recent years, reference services have evolved with users' changing needs and expectations.  Librarians meet the user at his or her "point of need" by facilitating the process of identifying and retrieving information for research, study or personal use.  Staff provide on-site, telephone, and email reference service. Librarians also promote use of web-based reference services by linking users to Ask-an-Expert services. 

Instructional librarians are committed to equipping users to become efficient, independent  information consumers and producers.  Thousands of students and scores of faculty have taken advantage of  regularly scheduled or on-demand hands-on library instruction sessions that are conducted in the library's Digital Learning Classroom.

General and specialized guides are available to help researchers identify materials for basic and advanced research information from both the library collections and the Web.

• Library Assistance
• Personalized Consultation
  Visit the Reference Desk in Founders Library or any branch library for immediate assistance;  or complete a request form at the information desk, specifying the time that you will return for consultation; or request an appointment online. Additional queries may be made by calling 806-7252 or by contacting your departmental library liaison.
• Departmental Liaison Program
  Library liaisons are subject area specialists who provide instruction and develop collections that serve the educational and research needs of the University's academic departments. Liaisons offer individual and group instruction in the use of the online catalog and research databases, orientation to information resources, and guidance for research projects within the discipline.
• Information Literacy Instruction
  Our librarians are prepared to assist the faculty in conducting hands-on database training and developing tutorials and library assignments that will enhance the students' research experience and take full advantage of the extensive resources available at Howard and in the Washington DC metropolitan area. For further information, please contact the Library Instruction Coordinator at 806-7252, or fzeigler@howard.edu. You may also use the Library Instruction Request Form to schedule an instructional session.
• Subject & Research Guides
   Subject and research guides are available online to assist researchers in identifying resources available in the Howard University Libraries and on the Internet. Research guides provide the researcher with tools to assist in the identification and evaluation of general sources and web pages, and in the preparation of citations. Strategies for Doing Library Research is intended to provide a starting point for basic research in any subject.

Staff Directory