Why should I make a research appointment?
Research appointments are ideal for in-depth research questions and are usually scheduled with the subject librarian who specializes in the area of your research. Our subject librarians can help you find information on a topic, help you execute a successful search for research resources, help you select and navigate library catalogs and databases, and answer questions about the library's resources.
Ideally, research appointments should be take place during the initial stages of the research process, but we are committed to helping students at every step of their research.
Other ways to get in touch with a librarian
You can also speak with our subject librarians by using our Ask a Librarian chat service. Available Monday through Friday, 10 AM–5 PM, this service is staffed by librarians ready to answer all of your questions. You can find our chat by visiting the library's homepage.
Email is another way of reaching a librarian. Our email addresses and subject specialities can be found on the research appointment webpage.
Borrowing materials from other Maryland universities and beyond
UMBC is a member of the USMAI (University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions) Library Consortium. A benefit of this is current UMBC students, faculty, or staff may borrow most circulating material from any USMAI library. You can request any circulating item that is in the online catalog of any USMAI library. The item(s) will be delivered to the library you designate. When the item is ready, you will be sent an email that pick-up is available at the Check-Out Desk. To view a list of the other member institutions of USMAI, visit the consortium's website and select "Members" from the top of the page.
Current UMBC students, faculty, and staff also have borrowing privileges at other Maryland institutions including:
- Carroll Community College
- Chesapeake Biological Laboratories (CBL)
- Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) - All Campuses
- Goucher College
- Maryland Institute College of Art
- Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly Tai Sophia)
- McDaniel College
- Stevenson University
- University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
To borrow materials from any of these libraries, you must have a valid UMBC ID. Before visiting any of these libraries, please review the policies and procedures found on our Circulation department website.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that allows patrons to request materials needed for their research that are not owned by UMBC.
