Whether you’re an experienced researcher or recently enrolled student who needs help filtering through the ocean of information, Stan State librarians are a click away.
Students can schedule an in-person appointment, or for a rapid response, you may get a hold of a librarian through their 24/7 chat.
An online appointment is recommended, but the front desk librarians also accept walk-ins, and you will receive help if one of them is available.
An in person librarian is available at J. Burton Vasché Library building adjacent to the Student Center. The university’s library is open Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If the materials the student needs are not available at Stan State during your appointment, the librarian can request the book or access to locked material from another university’s library.
You will receive an email notification indicating the request is being processed. Hard copies of books are available, but electronic files with a 24-hour turnaround time are an option for students.
Stan State librarians’ primary goal is to help students become self-sufficient researchers.
“Doing research motivates me; It’s fun to do detective work. I can use my experience and skills, my knowledge in helping a student find an answer, and show them how to do that,” expressed Tim Held, a Research Instruction Librarian.
Stan State librarians such as Tim Held, who has eighteen years of experience and a Master’s in Library Sciences, have seen firsthand the impact on a student who utilizes a librarian.
Students with solid research skills periodically need that extra push, and research librarians have unique strategies and avenues to help students get the required information.
Held noted that librarians are knowledgeable in various topics and have a support system within the department to help a student succeed academically.
Research librarians teach students how to filter out unnecessary stress by instructing them on how to utilize their time effectively and gather resources for their assigned topic.
Held says that when a librarian is unfamiliar with a subject, they reach out to their colleagues and receive support.
“I would always search broad words, but Kevin taught me about keywords and how to place quotations on certain words, which helped me navigate the online search engine,” says Daniel Ibarra (Senior, Exercise Science) about a research librarian who helped him.
A Stan State online learning librarian with a Master’s in Library Science, Victoria Hernandez, shared that she also has a background in social work, which she says has been useful when working with students.
“I was a first-generation student, and it motivates me to help others succeed,” Hernandez said.
“Students should meet on-one one with a librarian; it’s helpful for a student that doesn’t have experience with complex research topics,” Hernandez said, “We meet students at their capabilities, and it’s great when they come back and tell me what I taught them helped them.”