Definition of Reference

Information Sources and Services class discussion

Reference:  direct personal assistance gathered from a reference source that is tailored to the unique needs of each individual client that can be in a formal or informal instruction-based transactions.

I have witnessed the Reference Librarian at work when I was in my Practicum library over the summer.  I wasn't aware that the Reference Librarian was also the instructor in charge.  It caused a bit of a problem when patrons needed Reference assistance and the Reference was busy teaching a class.  Having the Reference librarian teach, as is with any class situation, there is an overall group instruction but they still have individual needs that must be addressed.  I think the most prominent service of the Reference Desk is that individual attention.

Bopp, Richard E. and Smith, Linda C. Reference and Information Services: An Introduction, Third Edition. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2001.

"Definitions of Reference," American Library Association, September 29, 2008.
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/definitionsreference.cfm (Accessed September 07, 2010)

 

Also while looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_interview, I found http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Libraries.