Reference

Have a tough reference question to answer? Never fear! Regional Reference is here! CMRLS contracts with the Worcester Public Library to provide reference services to all CMRLS member libraries and their communities. All member library staff and their customers have access to the WPL reference collections and help from the WPL reference staff.

Call, click or visit

You can get reference help in a few basic ways: by phone, via e-mail, through MassAnswers (a 24 hour a day/ 7 day a week live chat service) or in-person at the Worcester Public Library.

Contracting Library:

Worcester Public Library

Lucy B. Gangone, Head Librarian

508-799-1699 (fax 508-799-1713)

1-800-562-0080 member library use only

http://www.worcpublib.org

Ask A Librarian

The Ask a Librarian section on the Worcester Public Library’s homepage is an easy-to-use form. A Worcester Public Library Reference Librarian will pick up your request that day and begin to research your question. They generally respond within 24-48 hours.

Tip: This is a great way to request obituaries. If requesting an obituary from the Worcester papers, please include:

Name of the deceased,
Town they lived/died in
Exact date of death (month, day, year)

Requests from CMRLS member libraries are their priority!

Which service to use

Addresses, business or residential: Telephone
Obituaries from Worcester newspapers: E-mail
Worcester history questions: E-mail
Who won the 1955 World Series? Telephone
How many votes did Harry Truman win by? Telephone
Anytime WPL isn’t open: MassAnswers

And that's not all ...

Member library staff may call the Regional Reference Center for help in using the reference sources available in their own collections. Staff members will help analyze questions, identify possible resources and recommend a course of action.

Reference staff will also help member libraries with selection, maintenance and use of reference materials upon request. Additionally, they can prepare bibliographies for member libraries related to reference service and collection development. Give them a call!