Reference:

 The Reference Unit of the Library provides guidance and assistance to patrons on using 
 the Collection, both hard copy and online resources.  It has access to more than 
 4,000,000 records available to us through the CUNY+ Online System. This “Open Access 
 Policy” allows you to borrow these materials from the other CUNY libraries.

 Reference librarians are available daily to assist you to access these materials efficiently 
 and effectively. If you need assistance in accessing the CUNY+ online catalog (OPAC) or 
 the more than 50 electronic databases provided by CUNY please ask the librarian at the 
 Reference Desk for help.  In addition to CUNY, the New York State Library provides remote
 access to its resources through NOVEL, a statewide virtual library provided free to the 
 public by the New York State Library.  For more details on NOVEL please ask the reference
 librarians.  If you are having problems finding the materials that you need, or if the 
 materials that you find are not exactly what you want, please ask the librarian for 
 assistance.

 The primary goals of the Reference Unit are as follows: 

• To provide reference services (including telephone reference and referrals) to 
  students, faculty, visiting scholars, and members of the community in accordance with 
  the College’s goals and objectives;

• To allow students, faculty, staff, and visiting researchers, informed access to materials 
  in all formats; 

• To provide a range of information resources accessible through up-to-date licensed or
  purchased databases: such as CUNY E-Journals & Reference Databases;

• To educate students, faculty, and staff in the informed use of Library resources both 
  traditional and electronic;

• To provide guidance to the MEC Community on the use of the Online Public Access 
  Catalog (OPAC) “CUNY+PLUS”;

• To offer access to monographs, serials, newspapers, microforms, as well as other
   formats;

• To maintain “Ready Reference” collections;

• To develop and maintain reference collections;

• To provide bibliographic guidance to the MEC Community by using the 50+ CUNY licensed 
  databases which can be accessed on the Charles Evans Inniss Memorial (CEIM) library 
  workstations;

• To conduct course-related Information Literacy Instruction, Internet workshops and tours;

• To assist faculty in developing course assignments.

 Often the reference librarian will be able to help you to find specific sources of information 
 (e.g. book, journal, newspaper, as well as, online sources etc.) that are particularly relevant to 
 your needs. In some cases these materials may not be held in the Charles Evans Inniss Memorial 
 Library.  In such cases, the reference librarian will assist you with obtaining these materials from 
 other libraries in the New York metropolitan area by issuing you a METRO courtesy card. 
 Permission must be given by the visiting library to the home library before each visit. Please ask 
 the reference librarian for the METRO courtesy card.