Library Services (LLC): Reference & Instruction

When you need help finding college-appropriate resources, selecting the best databases to search, citing, and a whole lot more, GRCC librarians can help during Reference Service Hours.  

1. Speak with a librarian at the Reference Desk. 
2. Phone:  a Reference Librarian at (616) 234-3868 
3. Chat with a librarian using OneSearch Chat - we can share search results.
4. Email via Ask-a-Librarian.
5. Make an in-person, Zoom or Google Meet appointment with your academic department's Liaison Librarian  (Email links are also found on Library Subject Guides.)
6. Text (616) 201-4841 - great for short questions like "do we subscribe to***, what's the call number for ***?, etc.

When you select licensed resources from the Library website, you will prompted to login to MyGRCC. Please contact GRCC IT help (616.234.4357) if you are unable to login to MyGRCC.

WHO CAN USE?  This email reference service is for GRCC students, faculty and staff. If you're a Middle College student, please tell us where you are taking your classes. 

WHO ANSWERS?  Questions are answered by GRCC's masters-degreed librarians.

WHEN?  Whenever reference librarians are on duty - see Reference Service Hours.  If we're closed, we will answer your question first thing on our next business day.

FOR BEST RESULTS:  The more you tell us, the better we can answer. What class is this for? Who is your professor? Any assignment specs, like peer-reviewed journals? MLA or APA citing?  Tell us where you've already looked. Typical questions include:

• The book XXX is already checked out. How can I get a copy?
• Where do I find scholarly and professional journals in *** field?
• How do I find the complete full-text for an article <insert the article citation>? 
• How do I cite this *** document in APA? <insert the URL for the librarian to view>
• I at the Lakeshore, and my instructor assigned a research paper.  There's no library here... what am I supposed to do?

Librarians will promptly contact you via your GRCC email or phone with an answer.