The SCLC Reference Center helps libraries by expanding the reference services you provide for your patrons.  We use the materials available to us at the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), but we can also get photocopies of articles/items from the libraries of UCLA, USC, and the LA County Law Library.  Our reference services include:

• ANSWERING REFERENCE QUESTIONS:  We answer questions that cannot be answered at your library due to lack of resources, time, or staff expertise. We usually respond within 5 working days (excluding weekends and holidays).
   
• PERIODICAL DOCUMENT DELIVERY:  We send articles from journals, magazines, newspapers, etc., that your library does not have.

• BIBLIOGRAPHIC VERIFICATION:  We take vague citations/references and try to identify the right book, literary work, periodical, journal article, document, musical score, speech, etc., that the patron seeks.  (Example:  "I'm looking for a book I read as a kid in 1970, but I can't remember the author or title.  I remember a magic frog, a boy named Mikey, a girl who wore a blue hat," etc.) 
  

• FILE CHECKS:  We maintain extensive subject files of previously answered questions, so call us for a file check. These files also contain the best of the SCAN files (1969-1995).  We have information on People (the vaudeville star who caught bullets in his teeth, the first female physician in Southern California), Things (history of 8.5" by 11" paper, how to build a surfboard), Social Customs (histories of baby showers, homecoming, mail order brides, tooth fairy, blue/pink for boys/girls), Words and Phrases (origin of the terms glass ceiling, grim reaper, United States of America), and Signs (histories of @, #, $, &).

• CONSULTATIONS:  We can advise you on search strategy, especially for "Internet databases" such as http://www.census.gov/ .

Any SCLC library can submit questions; other libraries that can submit questions include our Associate members and any other CLSA system that has contracted with us for second level reference service.  You can send in questions in the following ways:

• PHONE:  If you need reference help immediately, call us at (213) 228-7575 and we will try to find the answer in one hour or less. This service is available Tuesday – Friday, 8 am to 8 pm. Also, if your request has a deadline of one week or less, a phone call is the best way to meet that deadline. 

• SCLC WEBFORMS:  Go to www.socallibraries.org and "sign in" on the right with your library's assigned username/password.  Then click on "reference desk" to access the "Ask a Reference Question" online forms for 4 types of questions: General Reference, Photocopy, Sheet Music, or Vehicle Repair.  (If you don’t remember your username/password, call us at 213-228-7575).

• EMAIL:  You can email your questions to questions@socallibraries.org .  Please give as much information as possible to help us answer the question.

Before we can answer your questions, please provide us with the following:

• A good reference interview.  Ask the patron probing questions to find the true information need.  When you think you understand the question, verify it with the patron.  Remember, we do not have the patron in front of us and depend on you to do the reference interview for us.

• A good search of your local sources.  By good, we mean standard reference sources such as Google, Internet Public Library, Statistical Abstracts, World Almanac, business directories, etc.

• A good description of the question.  Send us the question by the SCLC website, email, or phone.

We try to send answers back to you and your patron by email, if possible.  If we must send printed material from books, periodicals, microforms, etc., then we send it to the requesting library by scanned email, fax, or SCLC system delivery; the library must then give/send the information to the patron.

We sometimes send a list of sources checked, organizations contacted, etc.  If needed, we might also give ideas for locating additional information such as books, organizations, government agencies, etc.

We usually answer your questions within 5 working days (excluding weekends and holidays) after receipt of the question.  (You can also request specific deadline dates, such as same day, next day, or whenever your patron needs the information). 

We cannot give medical advice or interpretation, but we can offer information from various medical sources.

We cannot give legal advice or interpretation, but we can offer copies of specific laws, regulations, and decisions, as well as contacts for appropriate government agencies.

We cannot interpret literary works, but we can find published literary interpretations. 

We cannot appraise or evaluate antiques or artwork, but we can find historical/descriptive information, as well as biographical information on specific artists.

We cannot do market research, but we can suggest sources for further research.

We cannot compile complete or exhaustive bibliographies, but we can find printed bibliographies or compile selective bibliographies.

We cannot do lengthy genealogy searches (compile family trees), but we can find specific genealogical information (where John Doe lived in 1948).

We cannot do lengthy patent, trademark, or copyright searches, but we can find information on specific patents, trademarks, or copyrights.

Reference Center Supervisor:              Mike Germroth     mgermroth@socallibraries.org

Reference Librarian:                             Shari Haber         shaber@socallibraries.org

Reference Administrative Assistant:      Christina Carlisle  ccarlisle@socallibraries.org