It's a good idea to be clear about your needs when making a request from the library. The clearer you are able to be about your requirements, the better able the library will be to meet them.
Here are some things we'll probably need to know:
- Where have you looked already?
Which databases, websites, journals, libraries etc?
- When do you need the information by?
Within 48 hours, next week or next month?
- What do you need the information for?
Is it for personal interest, a short presentation you are making to your colleagues at the next team meeting, or research for your thesis?
Once these points have been covered, we may seek further clarification on the following:
- the amount of information you need (eg a couple of short introductory articles or 3-4 books)
- the level you need the information to be at (eg is it for patient information, background reading or something more academic?)
- any date restrictions (eg articles writen within the last 5 years)
- any other limits (eg New Zealand articles only)
- your format preferences (eg electronic items, hard copies, books, journal articles etc)