Ask a Librarian Policy
Ask A Librarian email reference is intended primarily for the students, faculty, staff and other affiliated users of The College of New Jersey. Inquiries from non-affiliated users specifically concerning the College, or the Library's collections, resources, and services also receive priority. All questions will receive some reply, even if the reply is a referral to a more appropriate information provider.
Questions will be answered by TCNJ Librarians as soon as possible during Reference Desk hours. Questions submitted during non-Reference Desk hours will be answered by the first librarian to open the Reference Desk (e.g. a question submitted at 3 a.m. on Monday will be answered by the 8:30 a.m. Tuesday Librarian).
Types of questions we can answer include: 1. ready reference (e.g. what is the most recent population of New Jersey?) 2. assistance in selecting and identifying sources and assistance with search strategies (e.g. how do I find scholarly journal articles in Psychology?), 3. instruction in using print and non-print sources, (e.g. how do I use the Library Catalog?), 4. directional and operational information (e.g. how do I find the Library's hours on the web page?). In-depth research questions may require a trip to the library.
