Os serviços de referência em bibliotecas universitárias brasileiras
The reference services have evolved and changed since the introduction of information and communication technologies in academia. Since its inception at the end of the XIX century great changes have taken place, especially when we refer to access to the enormous range of data and information available. The article approaches concepts of reference services and portrays reference services in Brazilian university libraries. Its purpose is to characterize Brazilian reference librarians and the medium in which reference services occur. The methodology used in this study integrates elements of qualitative and quantitative research. To collect data, the questionnaire was developed and made available to digital librarians in reference services of Brazilian university libraries. The results show a majority, female, between the ages of 35 and 40, post-graduated for a maximum of ten years, with a higher education in librarianship working in a university library, for a maximum of ten years and in reference services for a maximum of five years, linked to some central library or library system and that seek continuous training in courses, training and events in the area in which it operates, in short periods. The reference services occur in digital and face-to-face, the main information sources are the periodicals, theses and dissertations, made available and accessed through the portal informational resources of electronic journals and databases, mainly in the health and biological areas. The communication process for the reference transaction occurs predominantly with the use e-mail and landline telephones, social networks are used by most libraries, with Facebook and Twitter being the most used, mainly in the dissemination of products and services. The communication is carried out by librarians, prevailing in the Portuguese language.