Free Services of the Center for Children's Books include:
- in-house, phone, and e-mail reference (see below for our reference policy statement)
- access to the book collection
- reader's advisory services
- access to storytelling audio- and videotapes
- website reviews of storytelling recordings (both audio and video) and print resources for storytellers
- themed bibliographies and book lists on website
- space for groups to hold meetings and events
Reference Policy of the Center for Children's Books
It is the mission of the Center for Children's Books (CCB) to make information available to individuals requesting it. Reference service will be provided at all times the Library is open. The CCB provides a variety of services to meet informational needs within the limits of time, staffing, available resources, and the judgment of reference staff. The students, faculty, and staff of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science are our first priority, but we strive to assist anyone with a reference query. In-person inquiries take precedence over telephone or email requests.
Services include:
- Instruction and guidance concerning University of Illinois Library online catalog and other resources.
- Verification of bibliographic citations.
- Ready-reference information to well-defined, specific questions.
- Assistance using the library collection of reference materials.
- Referrals to other University Library departments, public libraries, or experts.
It is the philosophy of the CCB to provide excellent reference service within these principles:
- Accuracy of information
- Intellectual freedom
- Patron privacy
- Respectful atmosphere
- Timeliness of response
The CCB is staffed by Graduate Assistants and student volunteers from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Only the Graduate Assistants are able to field reference requests. Lengthy inquiries that would constitute in-depth research projects may be judged to be beyond the scope of the CCB's services.
