Reference & Research Services

What We Do

The Reference & Research Services Department teaches students and faculty how to find and use information, and connects them with the services and resources of the library. We do this primarily through Reference, Instruction, and Outreach services. 

Reference

Reference services begin in-person at the 1st floor reference desk, and continue online. Visit us either way, and we will help you find information, and connect you with the resources and services you need. More

Instruction

Librarians are available by appointment to students and faculty for individual or small-group research consultations; and every year we partner with faculty to teach hundreds of classes how to do research. More

Outreach

We are present throughout the year at orientations and events—with a focus on students' first year experience—to help connect students to our resources and services; and the library's liaison program pairs a librarian with each of USF's schools and academic programs to make connections at the discipline level. More

Reference Desk

Reference, instruction, and outreach all come together at the Reference Desk, where we welcome you to our staff & services, and our facilities & collections. More

Who We Are

The Reference Department includes nine librarians, two library assistants, and seven student assistants, all looking forward to meeting you in-person and online.

Reference & Research Services – (415) 422-2039

Name & Position	Phone & Email
Randy Souther Head of Reference and Research Services	(415) 422-5388 southerr@usfca.edu
Nicola Andrews Instruction & First Year Experience Librarian	(415) 422-5387 nandrews1@usfca.edu
Matthew Collins Reference Librarian	(415) 422-6923 collinsm@usfca.edu
Amy Gilgan Reference Librarian & Education Liaison	(415) 422-6963 akgilgan@usfca.edu
Colette Hayes Reference Librarian	(415) 422-6945 chayes3@usfca.edu
Annie Pho Instruction Coordinator & Assessment Librarian	(415) 422-2759 apho2@usfca.edu
Penny Scott Reference Librarian & Business Liaison	(415) 422-5389 plscott@usfca.edu
Eric Shappy Reference & Instruction Scheduling Coordinator	(415) 422-2045 shappy@usfca.edu
Claire Shariffi Reference Librarian & Nursing and Health Sciences Liaison	(415) 422-5399 cosharifi@usfca.edu
Carol Spector Reference & Government Information Librarian	(415) 422-2040 csspector@usfca.edu
Ariana Varela Reference Student & Technology Coordinator	(415) 422-2236 akvarela@usfca.edu