Basics Reference Source and Services

7/29/2019 Basics Reference Source and Services

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BASICSOF REFERENCE

SOURCESANDSERVICES


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PRESENTATIONCONTENTS

I. History and definition of reference and

reference services

II. What is reference service

III. How does reference service workIV. The reference interview

V. Reference sources

VI. Videos


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I. HISTORY

Samuel Swett Green

- Father of reference work

and was considered as the

founding figure in Americaspublic library movement

(Wikipedia)


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SAMUEL SWETT GREEN

Documented the first published account credited to referenceservice in 1876.

Became President of the American Library Association (ALA) in

1891. During his Presidential Address, he said these memorable

words, "The function of the library is to serve its users.Believed that a librarian should be as unwilling to allow an

inquirer to leave the library with his question unanswered asa shopkeeper is to have his customer go out of his storewithout making a purchase.


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II. WHAT IS REFERENCEAND REFERENCE SERVICE?

Reference

-is the act of referring or consulting (Merriam-

Webster)

Reference Service

- the professional advice and assistance

provided by the library staff, from materials in

the library's collection or elsewhere, to assist

individuals using the library's reading rooms

or making enquiries by mail, telephone or on-line to meet their information needs (Library

definition)


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SCENARIOSIN REFERENCESERVICES

Traditional reference service

vs

Modern / virtual / online reference service


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Traditional reference service is when an informationclient approach a reference desk and seek the help ofthe librarian or information manager.

The reference interview is personal throughface to face interaction.

There is library instruction.

Correspondence by mail is practice.

Traditional Reference Services


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Virtual, remote or online reference refers to a non

face to face interaction with the information client

but rather using mediums such as instant

messaging (IM) through free chat softwares

(yahoo messenger, google talk, AOL), emails andvideoconferencing for faster communication.

The use of Web 2.0 tools (wikis, blogs,

podcasting, tagging) facilitates the availability ofupdated information.

Modern/Virtual/Online Reference Services


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Social networking sites such as facebook and twitter

promotes resource sharing, communication and

exchange of ideas among the information community

and are globally popular.

The use of remotely available resources such as

information databases is adding up.

Electronic publications such as e-books are rapidlygaining popularity.

Modern Reference ServicesModern/Virtual/Online Reference Services


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EVOLVING TOOLSINREFERENCESERVICES

The functions of the Reference Librarianhave remained constant. The difference thatexists now is primarily in the tools that areused.

Before

The used static resources such as books,magazines, and newspapers and a librarycard catalog to point out the location ofmaterials.


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Now

Reference librarians have incorporated a host of new

tools like the computers, android phones, ipads or tablet

computers, CD-ROMs, telecommunications, and the

Internet among other to assist the information needs of

the library clients.

e.g. The use of the online public access catalog (OPAC)

has replaced the card catalog boxes. Mobile devices

now has access to online resources via

telecommunications or wireless internet connection.


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III. HOWDOESREFERENCESERVICEWORK

1. Inform or teach the information

client about your services.

The information client contacts

the library when there is a needfor information.

The library can encourage theinformation client to contact thelibrary when he/she needsinformation


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Question and AnswerIt is asking someone with the information skills to

deliver answers to an information problem.


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2. Assist the information client with their

reference questions.

Do a reference interview to find out whatthe real information need is

Good reference interview = Effectivereference service


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3. Guide the information client in selecting relevant

materials that will answer the questions asked.


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4. Do the reference search

Find the information

that will meet the need


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5. Do a follow up or

evaluate the results

Making sure the

patron's information need

was met.


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IV. THEREFERENCEINTERVIEW

The reference interview

is structured to help the

librarians provide answerfor the library user


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STAGESOFAREFERENCEINTERVIEW

1. Welcoming.

2. Gathering general information from the user and

getting an overview of the problem.

3.

Confirming the exact question.4. Intervention, such as giving information, advice or

instructions.

5. Finishing, including feedback and summary.


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V. REFERENCESOURCES

Reference sources

are designed to be

consulted ratherthan to be read

through.


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WHATARE READY REFERENCESOURCES?

Ready reference is about facts

The answers to ready reference questions

can be found in a dozen or more books,materials commonly at the reference

librarians disposal


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TYPESOF READY REFERENCES

1. General fact books

2. Almanacs and yearbooks

3. Handbooks and manuals

4. Quotations

5. Advice and information materials

6. Directories


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1. GENERALFACTBOOKS

Basic reference facts published throughout the worldeach year. It is the source to unusual queries orpeculiar information.

Examples: Encyclopedia of World Facts and Dates

New York Public Library Desk Reference

Famous First Facts

Guinness Book of World Records Whos Who In Medicine


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2. ALMANACSAND YEARBOOKS

Almanacs contain useful dataand statistics on countries,personalities, events,subject, etc.

Example: World Almanac and Book

of Facts

Yearbooks/Annuals containsdata and statistics of agiven year

Examples: Europa World Yearbook

Statesman's Yearbook

Recent information

Brief facts

Indicate trends

Index to more information

Directory and biographical

information

Browsing for fact lovers


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3. HANDBOOKSAND MANUALS

Reference sources for given fields of knowledge,

with emphasis on established knowledge rather

than recent advances

Examples:

Emily Posts Etiquette

Manual for Writers

First Aid Manual

Roberts Rule of Order


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4. QUOTATIONS

The index to who said what is the role of the

book of quotations.

Examples:

Familiar Quotations (Bartletts )

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

Gales Quotations: Who Said What


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5. ADVICEANDINFORMATION

Information from professional fields such as

medicine and law written for the general

consumer

Examples

Mayo Clinic Family Health Book

Legal Research

Consumer Reports

Drug Bulletin


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6. DIRECTORIES

To locate people, experts, and organizationsthrough addresses, phone numbers, zip codes,titles, names etc.

Examples: Local directories, such as telephone directories

Philippine Archives Directory

Membership Directories of Associations

Drug Directory


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VI. VIDEOS

The reference interview

How to promote reference services


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REFERENCES

Basic reference resources: a guide for New Mexico Public Libraries. Accessible at

www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdf

Historical development of reference service, a backgrounder. Powerpoint slides prepared by

the University of the Philippines Mindanao Library, accessible at http://library.upmin.edu.ph

Reference services 2.0. Accessible at

www.inflibnet.ac.in/caliber2009/CaliberPDF/Pegah%20Tajer.ppt

Ramos, Marian and Abrigo, Christine. Reference 2.0 in Action: An Evaluation of the Digital

Reference Services in Selected Philippine Academic Libraries. Accessible at

http://conference.ifla.org/past/ifla77/199-ramos-en.pdf

Tyckoson, David A. What is the best model of reference service? Library Trends, 2001.

Wan Ab Kadir Wan Dollah and Diljit Singh. Digital reference services in academic libraries.Accessible at http://www.lib.usm.my/elmu-

equip/conference/Documents/ICOL%202005%20Paper%207%20Wan%20Abdul%20Kadir%20

&%20Diljit%20Singh.pdf
http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://library.upmin.edu.ph/http://www.inflibnet.ac.in/caliber2009/CaliberPDF/Pegah%20Tajer.ppthttp://www.inflibnet.ac.in/caliber2009/CaliberPDF/Pegah%20Tajer.ppthttp://www.inflibnet.ac.in/caliber2009/CaliberPDF/Pegah%20Tajer.ppthttp://conference.ifla.org/past/ifla77/199-ramos-en.pdfhttp://www.lib.usm.my/elmu-equip/conference/Documents/ICOL%202005%20Paper%207%20Wan%20Abdul%20Kadir%20&%20Diljit%20Singh.pdfhttp://www.lib.usm.my/elmu-equip/conference/Documents/ICOL%202005%20Paper%207%20Wan%20Abdul%20Kadir%20&%20Diljit%20Singh.pdfhttp://www.lib.usm.my/elmu-equip/conference/Documents/ICOL%202005%20Paper%207%20Wan%20Abdul%20Kadir%20&%20Diljit%20Singh.pdfhttp://www.lib.usm.my/elmu-equip/conference/Documents/ICOL%202005%20Paper%207%20Wan%20Abdul%20Kadir%20&%20Diljit%20Singh.pdfhttp://www.lib.usm.my/elmu-equip/conference/Documents/ICOL%202005%20Paper%207%20Wan%20Abdul%20Kadir%20&%20Diljit%20Singh.pdfhttp://www.lib.usm.my/elmu-equip/conference/Documents/ICOL%202005%20Paper%207%20Wan%20Abdul%20Kadir%20&%20Diljit%20Singh.pdfhttp://www.lib.usm.my/elmu-equip/conference/Documents/ICOL%202005%20Paper%207%20Wan%20Abdul%20Kadir%20&%20Diljit%20Singh.pdfhttp://conference.ifla.org/past/ifla77/199-ramos-en.pdfhttp://conference.ifla.org/past/ifla77/199-ramos-en.pdfhttp://conference.ifla.org/past/ifla77/199-ramos-en.pdfhttp://conference.ifla.org/past/ifla77/199-ramos-en.pdfhttp://conference.ifla.org/past/ifla77/199-ramos-en.pdfhttp://www.inflibnet.ac.in/caliber2009/CaliberPDF/Pegah%20Tajer.ppthttp://www.inflibnet.ac.in/caliber2009/CaliberPDF/Pegah%20Tajer.ppthttp://www.inflibnet.ac.in/caliber2009/CaliberPDF/Pegah%20Tajer.ppthttp://library.upmin.edu.ph/http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdfhttp://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/BasicRefSources.pdf


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THANK YOU

Alma Degala-Prosperoso

LibrarianWorld Health Organization

Regional Office for the Western Pacific