Reference Services - Ask a Librarian
Reference Desk
REFERENCE DESK HOURS
(August 20 - Dec. 2, 2011)
Monday – Friday
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
THE REFERENCE DESK WILL BE CLOSED THE FOLLOWING DAYS:
SEPT. 5 (MON), NOV. 11 (FRI), NOV. 24–26 (THURS-SAT)
Chat Reference
Available during reference hours. Questions asked in person at the Reference Desk have priority over questions asked through chat. If the Chat dialogue box indicates that a librarian is available but you don't receive an immediate response to your question, try again in a few minutes. For more information, refer to the Hastings Chat Reference Policy.
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If you want to access Chat Reference directly through your Gmail account, add hastings.refdesk@gmail.com to your list of Gmail contacts. You will then be able to initiate a chat dialogue directly through Gmail. For Yahoo Messenger chat add hastings.refdesk to you contact list.
Reference by Phone
Reference Librarians are available during the above hours to assist patrons
by phone. The phone number at the Reference Desk is (415) 565-4751. We
give priority to patrons who are at the Reference Desk in person, so during
busy periods at the desk, a reference librarian may not be able to answer
your phone call.
Reference by Email
To email a reference question to a Hastings librarian, click here. Email reference is a service of the Law Library for Hastings students, faculty and staff. Email reference queries are answered daily Monday through Friday. We will try to respond within 24 hours, usually sooner if you send your question during regular business hours.
Research Assistance
Arrange to meet with a reference librarian to talk in-depth about a research paper or project. Students are encouraged to consult with a reference librarian for advice in planning their library research and to learn what library services might be useful to them. Librarians can assist in locating periodical articles and books on particular subjects, as well as by helping to identify unfamiliar citations and references. The librarians are also good sources of information on how to use the variety of research tools and computer services available in the library. Click here to schedule an appointment.
Online Reference Collection
Click here for a list of selected online reference materials including legal dictionaries, encyclopedias, and directories.
Library In-class Instruction
The reference librarians teach a number of legal research classes
each semester. The Topical & Course Research page lists the classes in which librarians have created web pages as a
class research tool.
Advanced Legal Research
The Advanced Legal Research seminar is a 3 unit non-GPA elective offered in the spring semester.
International & Foreign Legal Research
The Foreign & International Legal Research seminar is a 2 unit non-GPA elective offered in the fall semester. It is taught by Hilary Hardcastle. Contact Hilary for further information.