Librarians are available to help you with: 
- picking a research topic of appropriate scope
- finding relevant sources
- getting to the full text of a source
- evaluating sources for credibility
- saving sources
- citing sources
Contact a librarian for help! Click Chat with a Librarian on the Library homepage to see the following options:
Drop In
You can get instant research help in person 7 days a week (during the semesters)--just come inside the library and walk straight ahead to the reference desk.
Use this method when you have any kind of question about any subject!
Chat
You can get instant research help 7 days a week (during the semesters) via chat.
Use this method when you have a quick question about search strategies, finding the full text of an article, or library services. For chat hours, refer to the "Reference Desk" hours.
Text
You can text a librarian at 925-291-9699 during "Reference Desk" hours. (If you send a text after those hours, we will get back to you the next day.)
Use this method when you have a quick question about library services.
You can email the reference librarian on duty at askalib@stmarys-ca.edu, or email a specific librarian for your subject.
Use this method when you don't have time to wait around for an answer, you aren't available during reference hours, or when you have a question that doesn't require a lot of back-and-forth with clarifying questions.
Appointments on Zoom or in the Library
You can book a research consultation to meet with the specific librarian for your subject (business, chemistry, counseling, English, etc.) or meet with whatever librarian has availability at your preferred time.
When you use the online booking tool, you can see your librarian's availability, choose a date and time that work for you, and get a calendar confirmation with a Zoom link in your email.
Use this method when you have a more complex question that can benefit from screen-sharing and talking through the issues you're encountering, like how to narrow your topic, how to find a bunch of different sources, or how to use library databases.