Reference & Research Services
If you are interested in researching a topic but don’t know where to start, want to make sure you haven’t overlooked any important resources, or have another research-related question...
My experience working with scholars of all levels for more than a decade can help you with what you need. Contact me to find out how I can help you with your bibliography, literature review, citations, where to look next for missing information, and more.
I am familiar with reference resources relating to Slavic and East European, Central Asian, Middle Eastern and North African, some Latin American, and American topics. I can read Spanish fluently, have an intermediate understanding of Turkish and Italian, some Russian, and basic Persian.
Resource Guides
I have compiled a few brief lists and guides to resources on a range of topics.
Bookmarked Resources: vfj-indexingwordservices (raindrop.io)
Updated periodically, I organized websites into folders under the following headings: databases and digital collections (on a variety of topics); publishing companies; reference resources; library research guides; and union catalogs.
Broad in scope, each folder consists of bookmarked websites that are browsable as well as searchable based on tags I created.
Some include annotations I created while others simply provide a descriptive blurb from the website.
Book-Indexing Blogs: A brief, annotated bibliography (substack.com)
A descriptive list of blogs and podcasts by professional indexers or professional indexing societies, providing a look into some aspects of indexing.
The blogs are mainly focused on topics relating to back-of-the-book indexing.
Indexing Books: Online Training & Resources (substack.com)
A descriptive list of some online learning courses and programs for people interested in a structured indexing education.
History of Books & Book Publishing: A very, very, very brief bibliography (substack.com)
This list is not annotated but gives a listing of some books (with links to WorldCat) on the history of books, printing, and libraries.
More Resources for Writers (vfjindexingwordservices.com)
This page describes the Raindrop page (the first resource in this list) and notes where people may find an editor, literary agent, publisher, or book indexer.
Pricing Information
If you are working on a research project and are looking for guidance or help, it is crucial to get the answers you need in a timely manner. I would be happy to discuss an hourly rate with you, and come to an agreement based on the nature and complexity of your research needs.
Reference librarians with 10 years of experience, on average, are paid $28/hour for their work.
Reference or research questions may be demanding and require many hours of investigation, while others may seem complicated but end up being resolved within 15 minutes. For that reason, time spent on questions is priced based on quarter-hour increments:
0-15 minutes - if I can answer your question in 15 minutes or less, no charge.
16-30 minutes - one quarter-price of the full hourly rate.
31-45 minutes - half-price of the full hourly rate.
46-60 minutes - full hourly rate.
…Anything after the first hour follows the same incremental price pattern.
Initial contact and consultation, including the reference interview, is free of charge and does not count towards the pricing listed above.