Training of Reference Librarians

Duncan Alford

Four Components

• Orientation

• Training (internal)

• Professional Development (external)

• Evaluation

Orientation

• Types of Services– Reference desk / research consultation

• Response time, depth of research, type of patron

– Instruction – Faculty delivery service– Interlibrary loan

• Access Policy• Collection development feedback• Technical services feedback• Office procedures (telephones, copiers)

Training

• Substantive area of law / legal information– Series of monthly seminars– Westlaw / LexisNexis updates

• Technology training– Web design software– Tutorials

• Library procedures– Coordination with international/ foreign reference– Reporting of problems with electronic resources

Examples of Monthly Seminars

• Locating Appellate Briefs

• Locating Trial Court Records

• Treaty Research

• Law Journal Indexes – A Comparison

• LLMC Digital – Overview

• U.S. Congressional Documents

• Legal History Sources

Professional Development

• Lectures at Law School / University

• Professional Associations– AALL and LLSDC– ASIL– Selected CLE programs

• Professional publications

• Funding / scheduling

Evaluation

• Informal feedback on performance to librarians

• Regular periodic formal evaluations

• Collegial environment

Training Principles

• Fulfill information needs of the institution and its patrons

• Meet the interests and needs of the librarians and staff• Provide sufficient funding and scheduling flexibility

to encourage training outside the institution• Provide scheduling flexibility and recognition for

internal training• Articulate expectation of individual responsibility for

professional development