UCR students looking for support with their coursework, research, or general library questions have another valuable resource at their disposal: librarians are now available at the Help Desk in Rivera Library. 

Located at the combined Library Support/IT Support Desk, this service offers in-person help for a wide range of needs. Since the start of the academic year, the number of students seeking in-person help has increased by 32% compared to the same period last year, demonstrating that more students are turning to the library for guidance.  

Bringing librarians back to the Help Desk is part of the library’s efforts to support students in their academic success. According to Britt Foster, Director of Teaching and Learning, this change helps ensure students have access to the guidance they need when navigating their research and assignments. “Student success research has demonstrated that relationships with university faculty and staff have a positive impact on student engagement and sense of belonging: by having librarians very visible and available to our students, the hope is the Help Desk is a place where these relationships can form,” Britt said.

Today’s information landscape is increasingly complex, and students often need support not only in finding sources but also in evaluating them. Britt explained that “now it’s less about finding information, and more about efficiently navigating the flood to find high quality, relevant resources.” Librarians can help students develop these skills, offering practical strategies for identifying credible materials and managing research challenges.

Students are encouraged to visit the Help Desk for a wide variety of questions, from finding books and e-books to developing effective search strategies. Librarians are also equipped to help students verify citations, particularly as issues with inaccurate references generated by AI tools have become more common.

“We can help with almost anything”, Britt says. “Probably the unofficial model of reference is, I might not know the answer, but I know how to find it.”

Britt emphasized that students should feel comfortable seeking help at any stage of their research process. “Wherever you are in your research process, we’re excited to join you there,” she said. “Librarians want research help to feel like a warm conversation where we focus on getting you to your goals.”

Trained student assistants are also available at the Help Desk in both libraries. Their work not only supports patrons but contributes to their own professional growth. One student assistant researched technology to improve accessibility at the Help Desk, while another is developing a guide for evaluating social media posts. These projects reflect the library’s commitment to both quality service and meaningful mentorship experiences.

For students looking to get the most out of their visit to the Help Desk, Britt recommends bringing assignment details, if possible, as this can help librarians connect students with the most relevant resources. Most importantly, she encourages students to visit sooner rather than later. “The only thing that kills us at the desk is when our upper division or grad students say, I wish I had known I could get this kind of help from the library sooner! ”

Librarians are available at the Rivera Library Help Desk, located at the combined Library Support/IT Support Desk, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Students are encouraged to stop by, ask questions, and take full advantage of this valuable support system.