Use of Two Screens at Library Reference Desk for Improved Information Services

This article describes the positive interaction achieved with the use of two screens by the librarian and the user in an academic library reference service. Besides the ergonomic benefits provided for both the librarian and the user, the advantages of the system will be shown in terms of information transmission. This will involve an explanation of how the librarian’s screen display is shared with the user and simultaneously allows the librarian to present additional information and announcements.

Gaya Baru Pelayanan Referensi di Perpustakaan

Reference Service is seen as the heart of Libray Service. Reference Service is facilitated by reference librarians, who fulfill the user’s information need. Like other library services, Reference Service has also changed as a consequence of the impact of technology which is evolving in accordance with the changing need of the society. This article aims at discussing some new trends of library reference. This new style of service is broken into four main areas namely new trends of reference source; new trends of reference interview; collaborative efforts of reference service; library reference service.

Implementation and evaluation of online, synchronous research consultations for graduate students

Purpose Librarians at Northcentral University (NCU) provide online synchronous research consultations for students to discuss resources and search strategies for class assignments, papers, presentations, theses and dissertations. The purpose of this paper is to document the implementation and assessment of this service and to seek to demonstrate that research consultations provided by NCU librarians contribute to students’ learning and success. Design/methodology/approach Research consultations are scheduled using Springshare LibCal and are conducted via Citrix GoToMeeting. Students report their satisfaction and skills learned via the Research Consultation Satisfaction Survey. Dissertation chairs and faculty instructors complete separate surveys, which assess the effect that research consultations had on their students’ work. All surveys were created using Qualtrics. Findings Assessment data reveal that students are satisfied with the research consultation service and can identify specific skills learned. Additionally, faculty and dissertation chairs report an improvement in students’ citations and ability to locate relevant sources. Future research may include examination of learning analytics or citation analysis for students who participated in research consultations. Originality/value Research consultations are rarely documented in the scholarly literature. An opportunity exists to make virtual research consultations more widely adopted as a distinct library reference service, and further, to measure the impact of this service. This project demonstrates how to successfully implement and assess online research consultations. Techniques discussed may be used in 100 per cent virtual environments, as well as within traditional, brick and mortar schools that may already offer face-to-face research consultations.

Book Review: Providing Reference Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians

Providing Reference Services is number 32 in the Practical Guides for Libraries series. Beginning with a brief history of library reference service and a discussion of library stereotypes, the authors quickly move on to identifying criteria for building and maintaining a reference collection, as well as key points to consider when providing reference service, with particular emphasis on the reference interview. The authors note the need to incorporate emotional intelligence into reference work. Emotional intelligence is a topic that has recently garnered increasing interest in the business world, and it is good to see it addressed here in the context of libraries and reference services. This guide does not give detailed plans for implementing reference services but instead highlights key points and concerns to consider when developing reference services. The authors’ approach is broadly based, and the key points can be adapted by small public libraries as well large academic institutions. Each chapter ends with a helpful bibliography of sources and additional reading, and the authors also refer to another guide in the series for readers seeking more detailed help; this kind of continuity within the Practical Guides for Libraries series is useful and appreciated.

Curry’s Study on the Quality of Public Library Reference Service to LGBTQ Youth

A Review of: Curry, A. (2005). If I ask, will they answer? Evaluating public library reference service to gay and lesbian youth. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 45(1), 65-75. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/journal/refuseserq Abstract Objective - To assess the quality of service provided by reference staff in public libraries when presented with a request for LGBTQ information by a young person. Design - Unobtrusive observation without informed consent. Setting - Public library branches in the greater Vancouver area, British Columbia, Canada. Subjects - Reference librarians. Methods - A 19-year-old posing as a high school student approached reference desk staff at 20 public library branches. The student proxy, “Angela”, was instructed to ask for books on forming a gay-straight alliance at her school and, if there was a full reference interview, to also ask for recommendations of novels that the group might read. She recorded the reactions, both verbal and nonverbal, using Reference and User Services Association guidelines as a template. Library administrators were aware of the potential visits and permitted the research, but the reference desk staff were not aware of a potential visit by the student proxy. The researcher claimed that her method, while deceptive, was necessary to obtain authentic reactions from the library staff. Main Results - Most reference librarians approached by Angela made adequate attempts to assist her, although a few library staff reacted negatively to her query. Half of the librarians reacted positively to the patron’s request, with most of the others providing neutral responses. Very few of the librarians actually taught the patron how to use the library’s catalog to search for materials, and most of the librarians were unable to find appropriate materials due to not knowing the appropriate search terms. Only three library staff showed overt disapproval of the search topic, such as frowning or rushing to finish the reference interview quickly, with most remaining objective or supportive. Because of the service she received, Angela stated that eight of the 20 libraries were welcoming enough that she thought she would return. Conclusion - The wide range of responses received by Angela indicated that there was room for improvement in educating public library staff on gay and lesbian issues and materials, especially for gay and lesbian youth.

Behind the Appearance of Reference Services at the Library University

This study aims to describe the development of reference services at the Library of Universitas Indonesia. The research discussed about innovation in the development of new activities in the reference services. Analyzing reference services from librarians’ point of view concerning the new activities in reference services, including attitudes and policies toward activities. This research takes a descriptive qualitative approach and uses semiotic analysis refering to Semiology of Roland Bathes concerning significance from two stage, denotation and connotation, for analyzing the result of interviews. The results showed that the Universitas Indonesia Library reference service provides some new activities. Librarians become more active, revealed to be closer to users, and transformation of information technology is seen as one of the competitive need to accompany the development of knowledge. Transfer media eventually have implications not on technology but rather to communication of reference services in the Universitas Indonesia Library.