Advocates reexamining reference services and outreach programs, and relating them more closely. Argues that archival records are underutilized and that archivists should proactively reach out to researchers and encourage research use. Discusses researcher services; measuring and reporting on researcher use; electronic records; and creating…

Describes some of the services provided by the State Information and Reference Center of the California State Library, including the annotated bibliographies "Management Trends" and "Special Topics," and the provision of direct access to the University of California's online catalog. (EAM)

This bibliographic essay discusses a variety of items from the literature on the evaluation of reference services and reference personnel. A model for the evaluation process is presented on which the literature review is based. (Contains 48 references.) (LRW)

Discusses values that have shaped and guided the profession of reference librarian and portrays the rigors of working at a general reference desk. Topics include information overload; demands of the information age; societal trends; new technologies; training; and role reconsideration for the librarian, including teacher, information provider, and…

Narrates experiences at Randolph Macon College Library in instituting an online search service and offers suggestions to those considering starting service. Proposals, equipment, selecting vendors, search aids, training, planning, policy, promotion, population served, uses and effectiveness, impact on workload and interlibrary loan, and records…

Traces the development of reference service in American libraries during the second half of the nineteenth century and examines the evolution of reference service in the Providence Public Library. The article focuses on how the distinctive features of reference service were conceived and merged into the current concept of reference service. (43…

The first part of this article reviews developments in Canadian legislative libraries since the 1960s, with emphasis on reference and research services. The second part is an annotated bibliography of looseleaf and newsletter services available from legislation, regulations, and legislative activities. (12 references) (MES)

Discusses the value of the practicum in learning reference interview techniques. Methods for offering such field experience and programs in several library schools are described, with emphasis on the practicum experience at the University of Alberta. A possible reference practicum program is outlined. (16 references) (Author/MES)

Describes the collections, roles, and services of the Reference Section of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress. Publications available from the series "Reference Circular" and "Reference Bibliography" are described, and it is suggested that they be used by librarians…

Discusses approaches to reference services in academic libraries in light of new technologies and emphasizes the need to maintain the personal element, based on experiences at Northeastern State University (Oklahoma). Topics include roving librarians; desktop video conferencing; Internet media and the World Wide Web; and remote users. (LRW)

Describes the dual service philosophy at McGoogan Library, University of Nebraska Medical Center, which includes fee-based online search services and free use of online databases for reference purposes. The position of the American Library Association, viewpoints from the field, and record-keeping and accounting procedures are reviewed. Seven…

Discussion of library profession stereotypes focuses on academic male librarians. Topics include the position of the early academic librarians and the environment in which they worked; the beginnings of reference service; women in academic libraries; men in a feminized profession; and current images of male librarians in motion pictures and…

Discusses the role of technology in library reference interactions and suggests the need to focus more on what the users bring to the reference interaction. Topics include how the Internet impacts reference; the role of information literacy; representational and system models; users' mental models; studies in mental models; and reconstructing…

Although the personality traits of archivists make them resistant to adopting marketing strategies, changes in the archival environment and information require that reference archivists understand and use concepts of marketing to advance archival services. Discusses changes in archival service, concepts of marketing: customer-orientation,…

Presents an overview of the literature on reference services for quantitative social research; differentiates between data for information and data for research; suggests a general approach to providing services for these materials based on traditional archives and government documents reference; and gives a practical framework for handling…