Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INFORMATION SERVICES
• Lessons in Module 7 include:
I. Trends in Reference and Information Services
✓ The reference service is considered as the heart of the library service. It is a service
facilitated by a reference librarian which meets the information needs of users with
desired information.
✓ The development of computing technology and the rise of internet have led to
irrevocable paradigm shifts in the work of library and information science
professionals.
✓ Crucially, such developments are not static, and the growth of the technological
sphere is ongoing. Librarians must, by consequence, now focus on what technology
their users have adopted and how they can use that same technology in the library
to better support patron needs.
VIEWS OF THE FUTURE REFERENCE
✓ These current trends somehow or rather will have a bearing in shaping librarians and
information services in the new era. They are summarized as follows:
o Library functions in information and knowledge-based society
o Knowledge-based economy- information and knowledge as drivers to boost the
economy
o Information management recognized as an important discipline
o Librarians expanded and changes in digital environment
o Leadership skills
o Access role replace custodial role
o Librarians need new management knowledge skills
o Trend to develop digital contents to facilitate access
o And many others…
N E W WAY S O F D O I N G B U S I N E S S
✓ As the internet has become part of our daily existence, libraries have chosen to
compete by adding first email reference, then chat reference, and now reference using
IM (instant messaging).
✓ E-mail reference was a simple addition. Even using basic e-mail software, libraries
began to communicate with their users.
✓ Chat reference was patterned after some of the commercial enterprises already using
this technology. The software has improved and has been made more usable for
libraries.
o The advantage of chat reference can be done through a consortium or regionally to
spread the expense and allow the libraries involved to offer more hours of service.
N E W WAY S O F D O I N G B U S I N E S S
✓ Though books will always remain part of the reference picture, digital
versions of print titles and new materials in digital format only have
flooded the market.
✓ Slowly, reference titles available only in print are receding and digital
titles are multiplying.
✓ More access to online databases is available beyond the library
✓ The library’s users can access the databases at home, in their office, or
elsewhere.
✓ This improved access results in making it easier for the user who finds
it inconvenient to visit the library during its hours of service.
P ROV I D I N G N E W S E RV I C E S
✓ Face-to-face reference service has declined in the last few years as the internet has become a
more prominent part of users’ lives.
✓ Libraries have also noted the decline in the number of ready reference questions and an
increase in more complicated questions. Users only consult the reference librarian after trying
unsuccessfully to find the information on the internet.
✓ They also have to provide access through the web to the library and its resources in order to
reach users wherever they are.
✓ Librarians have begun to spend more time on information literacy.
✓ The complexity of the library’s resources, especially the online databases, has made it
imperative that the users receive assistance in using them.
✓ The information literacy instruction may be one-to one at the reference desk or in an e-mail
or chat session; or it may be a class- either a one-shot class to get users started or a part of
collaboration with a teacher or professor to help students get started on a particular
assignment.
W H AT W I L L L I B R A R I A N S D O ?
✓ This newly defined reference service means that the role of the librarian must change.
✓ Of course, librarians will continue to answer reference questions, although there may be less of ready
reference and more of complex.
✓ Many of these requests will be made online rather than in person though users will continue to come to
the library.
✓ Librarians will continue to do collection development. With less print to order, librarians will
concentrate their attention on the evaluation and selection of electronic resources.
✓ Librarians will do more information literacy instruction- both one-on-one and in groups. Users need to
learn use electronic resources, the online catalog, and other databases that are available.
✓ Librarians will develop their reader’s advisory skills to provide more personalized service to their users.
✓ Librarians will learn more about marketing.
✓ Reference librarians’ role will change as reference continues to evolve. Their new role will be
multifaceted and more proactive than in the past. They will work to design better systems that meet their
users more personalized needs.