Reference Policy Statement

The Luther L. Gobbel Library of Lambuth University is open Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 12:00-4:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 2:00-11:00 p.m., during the fall and spring semesters.  Hours vary during the summer and holidays.  Reference help is available during all hours the library is open, and the Reference Librarian assists all patrons who require help in locating information in the library, regardless of affiliation with the university.  Priority, however, will be given to faculty, staff, and students of the university. 

Reference Collection

The Reference Collection consists of print and non-print (electronic) resources and is kept as current as possible.  Materials in this collection include atlases, bibliographies, criticisms, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, handbooks, indexes, statistics, thesauruses, and other traditional reference sources, shelved on the main floor in Library of Congress classification order.  Additionally, the library is a depository for Government Documents, and many of these resources are available in the Reference Collection as well as others housed in the Government Documents Suite on the third floor.  Reference materials do not circulate and must be used in the library. 

Telephone Reference

Limited telephone reference service is available at the Reference Desk by calling 731-425-5290.  We will answer simple reference questions and do lookups in our online public access catalog.

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Electronic Reference

The Reference Librarian provides reference services through electronic means to the students, faculty, and staff of Lambuth University and to the general public. At present, this consists of an e-mail reference service called Ask A Librarian and is available at:

http://www.lambuth.edu/academics/library/library.html.  Electronic databases are located on computers in the librarys computer lab (adjacent to the Reference Desk), and information on the use of these databases is provided by the Reference Librarian.

Pathfinders

An Information Center is located next to the Reference Desk and includes information on using the librarys print and non-print resources as well as Web resources for all disciplines taught in the university.  These Pathfinders are free of charge.

Reference Appointments

Appointments with the Reference Librarian are available to Lambuth faculty, staff, and students for individualized assistance with research needs.  Please call the Reference Desk (731-425-5290) or visit the desk during library hours.