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For Immediate Release

Written by: Laurel Alberson, 260-481-6166

Media contact: Judith Violette, 260-481-6514

IPFW Library Launches Mobile Reference Service

(Fort Wayne, August 20, 2007) -- Indiana University—Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) students looking for help with research now have easier access to assistance thanks to a new initiative by the Walter E. Helmke Library. The library recently launched a remote librarian service, or mobile reference service, where reference librarians spread out across campus to make themselves available to provide easier access to students.

Reference librarians will now be found across the IPFW campus helping students at various times in the Writing Center, the nursing clinical laboratory, the education curriculum lab, and elsewhere. In most instances, faculty in the schools or departments arrange for the librarians to be available when they are needed most and then announce their availability to the students. Librarians may even be “attached” to online courses where students can ask questions as part of their online chats. IPFW students find this option particularly helpful because they can learn from the questions others ask. Librarians are also available both by regular e-mail and instant messaging.

In the library, reference librarians are available for private one-on-one research consulting appointments. Each campus department is assigned a librarian, and once students select their majors they have their own personal librarians to help them solve their information problems, either in person or remotely. Librarians also help students as part of their presentations to classes throughout the year.

For more information, contact Judie Violette, director of library services, at 260-481-6514.

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