Reference Services

• Information Commons
• Government Publications
• Microfilm and Microfiche
• Library Instruction
• Guidelines for Patrons with Children
• Community Information Program
• Online Reference Service
  

The Reference Department, renovated into an Information Commons Fall Semester 2000, is located to the left as you enter the south entrance of the building. It is staffed by professional librarians who provide information and access to materials in many formats, from traditional printed indexes to the latest in Web technology. It is is designed as a collaborative, interdisciplinary, learner-centered, lap-top-ready lounge and study space to meet the needs of UMKC students and faculty as they study and conduct research.

The Reference Collection contains encyclopedias and dictionaries on many subjects, sources of information about people, places and things, and books which will guide you to materials on various topics. Reference staff will assist you in developing search strategies and in using the library's resources as well as accessing remote resources.

The Information Commons and Reference Collection are open all hours the library is open. The Reference Desk is staffed from Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. From 9-11 p.m., Reference Student Assistants will assist you with informational questions and the computers. (During intersessions, the Reference Desk is staffed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; hours vary during holidays.)