Personalized Research Assistance (PRA)

What is Personalized Research Assistance (PRA)?

• It's your chance to meet with a librarian to get in-depth personalized research assistance with library research and resources without interruption. 
• By working one-on-one with you, the librarian gets to understand YOUR assignment  and is able to connect you with the information that YOU need.
• Librarians can show you how to find and use full-text databases and other library resources that will be most useful to YOU for YOUR research.
• Plus, we can help you brainstorm topic ideas, obtain hard-to-find materials, show you how to evaluate information on the Internet, and assist you with citing resources.  Whatever your need, we can help!

 

How is it Different from Assistance at the Reference Desk?

 

A PRA appointment allows you to meet with a librarian without interruption for an extended period of time. It also gives the librarian a chance to prepare for the meeting and get a better idea of the types of resources available on your topic.

When are Appointments Available?

You may request a 30-45 minute PRA appointment between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How Can I Make my Session Most Productive?

Try to schedule your appointment early in your research process. If possible, drop off a copy of the assignment before your appointment, and let us know what aspect of your research is likely to cause you the most trouble. Finally, bring a copy of your assignment and any sources you may have already located with you to your session.

How Do I Request an Appointment?

Complete the PRA Request Form. Copies are also located at the Circulation or Reference Desk.

 

Last Updated: July 2012