Reference Services

Reference librarians provide assistance and instruction in the use of the library and its information resources. They are available for individual consultation on a walk-in and by-appointment basis as well as by telephone, fax, and e-mail. They provide advice on search strategy, assistance in selecting the most useful information tools, and instruction in the use of these resources, including reference books, periodical indexes and abstracting publications, the South Dakota Library Network catalog, periodical and reference databases, and other Internet resources. Although our reference librarians emphasize teaching (and assisting) users to conduct their own library research, they also attempt to locate desired information when appropriate.

Use Chat to Ask a Question

Briggs librarians use Meebo.com to provide information assistance via instant messaging. You can chat with a librarian  using the Meebo.com badge on our Ask Us web page or chat with "sdsulibrarian" on AIM, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger. 

Use E-mail to Ask a Question

E-mail questions can be sent to Briggs librarians using our E-mail Us form, accessible from the Ask Us page.

Make an Appointment with a Librarian

Briggs librarians are available for individual appointments to provide in-depth reference assistance to members of the SDSU community. See Consult-a-Librarian for more information.

Other Reference Services

As part of our Library Instruction Services, reference librarians provide group instruction in the use of the library and its resources to SDSU classes and other groups.

Reference Librarians provide reference, document delivery, and bibliographic instruction services to SDSU students and faculty at remote sites. See Distance Library Services for more information.

Reference librarians also develop and maintain the library's collection of reference sources including bibliographic and full-text databases.

Reference Department Staff (all e-mail addresses end with: @sdstate.edu)

Elizabeth Fox, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Associate Professor
E-mail: elizabeth.fox  Telephone: (605) 688-5569

Clark Hallman, Head of Public Services and Head of Reference, Professor
E-mail: clark.hallman  Telephone: (605) 688-5572

Nancy Marshall, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Professor
E-mail: nancy.marshall  Telephone: (605) 688-5569

Susan Schleicher, Library Associate
E-mail: susan.schleicher  Telephone: (605) 688-5571

Laura Wight, Reference Librarian, Instruction Coordinator, Assistant Professor
E-mail: laura.wight  Telephone: (605) 688-5955

Vacant, Reference and Digital Services Librarian
E-mail:  Telephone:

Contact Information: Hilton M. Briggs Library, SBL 2115, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007-1098, Phone: 605-688-5570, Fax: 605-688-6133, Email Us
Updated: 2 June 2008 by ch