Please Remember
All questions are answered on a first come/first serve basis. Generally, we will try to send some type of response within the 2-3 day period, though some questions may take more time to research.

Researching
Exhaustive research or literature searches are beyond the scope of "Ask a Librarian". If your research project requires such a search, you should contact the library nearest you for guidance.

Family history questions
We do not undertake to trace your ancestors for you. But we can usually advise you where to start. You'll find some useful Web sites as well as Local Research Help on the OPL Genealogy Home Page.

Factual questions only, please!
We can only handle questions to which a documented factual answer exists. Hypothetical questions and requests to undertake original research are beyond the scope of Ask a Librarian. We will not analyze an issue, guess an answer, or give opinions. We deal only in documented matters of fact.

Please give us some background
Knowing the context of your question can help us find the right answer for you. One of the difficulties of answering questions by email is that we can not interview you personally to make sure that we understand exactly what you want. You can help by explaining the context of your question, telling us in general terms why you are asking it, and letting us know where you have already looked for the answer. Please add to your question any further information which you think may be useful to us. It really can help the librarians provide the information you need.

Please double-check your email address
This is the weakest link in your electronic reference library service. We can't reply to your question if you haven't given us a workable email address. There are two reasons why our replies to questions are returned. By far the most common being, the reply email address hasn't been entered accurately on the request form. It can also happen when you are in a local network or behind a firewall which does not permit incoming email from our system. Please check that you can give us a workable email address before you use Ask a Librarian.

Legal and medical questions
If you have a legal or medical problem, consult the appropriate professional, not a librarian. We will not give legal or medical advice of any kind. We can answer general questions, or help you to locate a doctor or lawyer.

Quiz questions
Answering trivia questions is not the intent of Ask a Librarian. We'll try to help if you get really stuck but please don't send us all twenty questions and expect answers. Remember that some quiz questions reverse the way the information is recorded in dictionaries and encyclopedias, making it impossible to look up an answer.

Projects, essays and assignments
Please don't expect us to write them for you. We can help by pointing you to information sources on your topic but it's up to you to do the work of interpreting them and answering the question your teacher has given you.

The Direct Method
Why not go directly to the source? When we know that you can easily get a full answer to your question from the source organization, we may refer you to it rather than give you a brief answer ourselves.