Scribd
Upload
422 views33 pages

Introduction-to-Reference-and-Information-Services REPORT

The document defines reference services and discusses its key aspects. Reference service is defined as assisting library users in their use of library resources by several authors. The four main functions of reference librarians are instructing users, answering queries, aiding in resource selection, and promoting the library. Reference work involves personal assistance to users while reference services encompasses reference work along with other activities like collections.

Uploaded by

eli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
422 views33 pages

Introduction-to-Reference-and-Information-Services REPORT

The document defines reference services and discusses its key aspects. Reference service is defined as assisting library users in their use of library resources by several authors. The four main functions of reference librarians are instructing users, answering queries, aiding in resource selection, and promoting the library. Reference work involves personal assistance to users while reference services encompasses reference work along with other activities like collections.

Uploaded by

eli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 33

Reference Services Definition

 Reference service is the supreme and ultimate function


of the library. This is in fact the hub of all library
activities. sometimes referred to as ‘reference and
information services’ or ‘reader services’.
 According to A.B. Kroeger – “assistance in the use of
the library”
 According to James I. Wyer – “part of library
administration which deals with the assistance given
to the readers in their use of the resources in the
library ”
Reference Services Definition
 According to Samuel Rothstein – “the personal
assistance given by the libraries to individual readers
in pursuit of information”.
 S.R. Ranganathan – “Reference service is the process of
establishing contact between a reader and his
documents in a personal way”
 Samuel Green’s Personal Relations Between Libraries
and Readers, 1876 – introduced 4 main functions of
the reference librarian.
4 Main Functions of Librarian
✓Instructs patron how to use the
library
✓Answer patron queries
✓Aids the patron in selecting
resources
✓Promotes the library within the
community
Reference Work
 Term emerged in 1890’s
 Some overlap between the concepts “reference
work” and “reference service”
 According to Rothstein reference work is the
“personal assistance given by the librarian to the
individual readers in the pursuit of information
while reference service implies a “definite
recognition” for providing reference work
Reference Department
 Organization
 Staff
 Collection
 Functions
Organization
➢ School library reference is centered in a section
➢ Small college or public library mat set aside one
major room for reference service
➢ public or university library on or more rooms
might be designated for each of these types of
materials: periodicals, gov. pub., maps, microfilm,
microcard and photostat, manuscripts and rare
items, bibliography
Organization
 Special Units:

1. an information desk
2. a telephone
3. reproduction equipment
4. interlibrary loan
5. Records
6. Files
7. Audio-visual facilities
Personnel/Staff
a. Chief reference librarian – responsible
for administration of the division
b. Reference assistants – have general
assignments and assigned to the units or
departments
c. Patrons
Collection/ Reference materials
 Usually arranged on the shelves by DDC or LC
 Includes : dictionaries, encyclopedia,
yearbooks, directories, handbooks, manuals,
serials, indexes and bibliographies
 Some reference collections also contain
periodicals, newspaper, clippings, pamphlets,
pictures, documents, music scores, films,
recordings, and even museum objects
Functions
 In 1942, the American Library Association (ALA)
stated six functions of reference services:
1. Supervision function
2. Information function
3. Guidance function
4. Instruction function
5. Bibliographic function
6. Appraisal function
The supervision function
 Proper organization of facilities
 Selection of reference materials
 Direction of personnel
 Study of the library clientele
The Information Function
 Answering all types of questions and
produce source that would answer the
questions
 Give assistance to the inquirer as much as he
requires
The Guidance function
 Give guidance to the readers in the
choice of books and other materials
 guide in the location of documents
The Instruction function
 Give instructions about how to work in the
library, the use of catalog and reference
works, the location of materials, etc.
 Conducting orientation program
The Bibliographic function
 The bibliographies in various subjects of
interest to the readers, should be prepared
by the reference staff
The appraisal function
 The success in reference service largely
depends upon two factors:
1. possession of right material
2. knowledge of how to get the most out of
it
Reference Process
 “the process of satisfying specific, recurrent
information needs” (Jahoda)
 “the process of answering the
questions”(Katz)
User and Information Seeking
Behaviors
 User – a person who utilizes the
information resources of a library, the
services and products of an information
system and derives benefit form them
 Also known as patrons or clientele
 Focal point of information activities at all
levels
Categories of Users
 Specialist
 Student
 Housewife
 An average layman
 A business man
 A teacher
 A doctor
 A lawyer
 Others
User and Information Seeking
Behaviors
 Information seeking behavior refers to the way people
search for and utilize information
 Thomas D. Wilson(1981)- described information
behavior as the totality of human behavior in relation
to sources and channels of information, including
both active and passive information-seeking, and
information use.
Types of request made
 Demand of specific documents
 Demand for specific data
 Retrospective search
 Current awareness demands
 Demand of exhaustive search
 Research oriented search
Classification of reference
questions
 Classification of questions by subject
 Classification of questions by type
 Classification of questions by purpose
and inquirer
 Classification of questions by sources
consulted
Classification of reference questions summary
Class of Sample types Representatives
Questions sources

1. Language Definitions, spelling, abbreviations, symbols, Dictionary


foreign terms, usage
2. Background “something about,” general information, Encyclopedia
self-education
3. Trend Current events, past year’s developments, Yearbook, serial
recent happenings
4. People Notables, specialists, socialites, others Biographical
dictionary
5. Places Locations, descriptions, distances Gazetteer, atlas
6. Organization Addresses, purposes Directory
7. Facts Curiosities, statistics, events, formulas, Handbook
allusions
8. Activities “how to do, “how to make”” Manual
9. Bibliography Reviews, best books, subject literature National, trade subject
bibliography
10. Illustrations Pictures, cartoons, slides, films, recordings Audio-visual material
Analyzing the reference questions
 Contextual consideration
 Institutional context
 Person context
 Place context
 Inquiry In context
 Sources in context
Reference interview
 A conversation between a member of a library
reference staff and a library user aimed to clarify
the user’s need for information and eventually
help them in looking for materials to satisfy the
identified information need.
 Also called query negotiation interview
Query message
 The question that aims to seek information being
thrown by a user the reference librarian
 It has two components – given and wanted
 Given serves as the starting point for the reference
librarian in locating the wanted particular
information
4 types query message
 Directional queries
 Ready reference queries
 Specific reference queries
 Research queries
Directional queries
 These queries are rooted from the questions
“where”. They aim for information about the exact
location, or maybe. About how to get onto the
particular location
Ready-reference queries
 Can be answered by the reference librarian in one
or two minutes by providing a fact or piece of
information found in a single source
Specific search queries
 These are in the form of questions that are formed
by “what, when, where, why, and how”. The
answers to such queries are very specific and can
be given outright without further inquiries
Research queries
 The user is enabled to exploit bibliographic
structure in order to achieve an objective
 The reference librarian will be the one to
exert all efforts to help the user achieve
his/her objective
Thank You

You might also like