Research Assistance
The librarians at Barbour Library are available to answer questions and to assist with research, and there are multiple ways to find help:
Information Desk
Librarians are available at the information desk to answer questions at regularly scheduled hours. The information desk is located on the first floor of the library, across from the new book display and the reference room. Current reference desk hours are:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:
- 9:00-11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday and Wednesday:
- 9:00-11:00 a.m.
- 7:00-10:00 p.m.
- Saturday:
- 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Reference Chat
A virtual version of the reference desk, reference chat, is an online platform for receiving research assistance in real time. You can ask a question in chat here or use the "Ask a Librarian" box on the right hand side. Current chat hours are:
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday:
- 9:00-11:00 a.m.
- 2:00-4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday:
- 9:00-11:00 a.m.
- 2:00-4:00 p.m.
- 7:00-10:00 p.m.
- Wednesday:
- 9:00-11:00 a.m.
- 3:00-5:00 p.m.
- 7:00-10:00 p.m.
- Saturday:
- 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Library FAQs
The library staff have compiled a list of frequently asked questions, and you can find those questions and the answers to them here. These questions cover a large range of library resources, policies, and procedures, and they can be searched or browsed.
E-mail Us
If you would like to submit a question to a librarian through email, you can send your message to reference@pts.edu. If there is a specific aspect of library services that you have questions regarding, you can find the appropriate staff member and their contact information in our staff directory.
Library Guides
Created by the library staff, these guides provide curated resources, helpful tips for research, and instructions for common procedures. There are guides for Pittsburgh Theological Seminary courses, subject guides, and how-to guides, and they can all be found here.