Reference Services

Reference Services is located on the main floor (Floor 2) of Milner Library. The reference desk in our lobby is a starting point if you are not familiar with the library or unsure how to start your research.  

REFERENCE ASSISTANCE
Milner Library offers assistance to library patrons through a variety of media.

Visit or call
Contact the reference desk located in the main lobby. Phone: 309-438-3451.

Instant Message
IM a Milner librarian using AOL Instant Messaging. Screen name: milnerlibrarian.

E-mail
E-mail your question to a Milner librarian at libemre@ilstu.edu or use our online email reference form.

Consult
Meet one-on-one with a Milner librarian.  For an appointment contact either a Milner Library subject specialist or the Reference Coordinator at brstoff@ilstu.edu.

REFERENCE MATERIALS
The reference collection includes both print and online reference sources.

Print reference
The print reference collection includes about 20,000 items such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, and guides. Materials in this collection are available for in-building use only. The most frequently used reference materials are kept at the reference desk. They may be borrowed for two hours for use within the library.

Online reference
Milner Library subscribes to several online reference sources available 24/7 via the Milner website (accessed through the Milner Library databases page).  Especially see Funk and Wagnall's New World Encyclopedia, Gale Virtual Reference Library, Grove Art, Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford Reference Online Premium Collection, and World Almanac. For a selection of reference sources freely available on the Internet, see Reference Resources Online.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bruce Stoffel, Reference Coordinator
Jenna Self, Reference Services Operations Manager