What kind of questions can I ask?

We can help you answer all kinds of questions, whether you need the value of a used car, what your birthstone is, or where to find good healthcare information.

Simple questions can be asked online using our chat service or with instant messaging. For more complicated questions or in-depth research, it‘s better to send e-mail, call us, or come to the library. See Ask a Librarian for details.

How fast will I get a response?

• If you use chat, you‘ll get a response right away any time, 24 hours a day. Librarians around the world will be there to help you.
• If you instant message (IM) us when the library is open, we‘ll talk right back.
• If you e-mail us, we promise to get back with you within one day.
• If you call us or drop in when we‘re open, we‘ll help you there and then!

How quickly you get an answer will depend on how complex your question is. But we‘re information experts, so we‘re usually pretty fast!

Who‘s answering my question?

If you use our online chat service, librarians from other libraries may help you (if you use it at 3 o‘clock in the morning, they may even be in Australia).

You‘ll always get a Champaign librarian when you instant message, e-mail, or call us. So, if you have a question that it would be best to have a Champaign librarian tackle (for instance, something about a local issue), use one of those ways of contacting us.

Can you recommend a good book to me?

We love to talk about books! Feel free to Ask a Librarian for a reading recommendation. Also check out the books section of this website.