Not all research papers are alike. Many require hours of study, research and thorough edits. It’s not uncommon to get lost with style format, sources and how to bundle it all together to make a strong presentation.
But finding the right sources can be as simple as setting up an online research appointment with the help of a librarian at Pierce College, who can ease the fear and stress when writing and doing research for a paper.
These appointments are made through the Pierce Library website. A chat box is available on the Pierce College website, or students can book an online research appointment in-person or on Zoom. The time slots vary between a half-hour to an hour.
“We like helping people, that’s our whole purpose to teach information literacy to students, and to show them how to navigate through all the sources to choose the right sources for their papers,” Library Department chair Lauren Saslow said.
Students will need to be cleared of any symptoms of COVID-19, and show proof of either vaccination or a negative test through their Cleared4 profile to enter the Library in person. Pierce and the school district implanted this mandate on Oct. 18, to help stop the spread of COVID-19 among the student body.
“This semester has been slow due to less students on campus but the Library is still open everyday,” Saslow said. “We haven’t reached the point when students start to panic on their research papers just yet but we’re going to release a message on Canvas soon letting students know to start their research early and not wait until the end of the semester.”
If booking a one-on-one in person appointment is not an option, Zoom appointments are encouraged. There are comprehensive and useful workshop tutorials on the Canvas app and on the Pierce Library website to help students on how to start the process for their research papers.
“Every class that I’ve taken so far that needed a research paper, the teachers have provided a general guide,” student Nicole Kasyan said. “Occasionally, I’ve asked the librarians for help on difficult papers.”
Student Alisabel Valencia said that the assistance she received from the Library has helped her in the long run.
“While in English 102, I learned how to use the Pierce Library database through the help of a librarian,” Valencia said. “Now I access the database online mostly on my own since I know how to use it for all my research work.”
The Library is open Monday – Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on weekends. The online chat is available 24/7 with a librarian.
