Reference 101

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Reference 101

• NCLS Continuing Education Workshop
• Facilitators Amy Degnan and Joan Pellikka

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Topics

• The Reference Interview
• Selection and Evaluation of Resources
• Print Resources
• Top 50 Reference Books
• Local and government information
• Online resources
• The best FREE ones
• Online databases (NOVEL and others)
• Practice Questions

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Ask the right questions(The Reference Interview)

• The Reference Interview A conversation between a
  member of the
• library reference staff and a library user for
  the purpose of clarifying
• the users needs and aiding the user in meeting
  those needs.
• Take the lead
• Narrow the topic
• Give options
• Open and closed questions

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Patron I need a book about Mexico. Staff A
book about Mexico? Are you looking for travel,
history, or something else about Mexico? Patron
UmmI dont know what to call it...I need
pictures of people. Staff You need pictures
of Mexican people? Patron Yes. Staff What
information do you need to get from the
pictures? Patron I have to make a
costume. Staff Then you need information about
Mexican culture and dress. Patron Yes!
5
Patron I need a book about insects. Librarian
Ok, are you looking for information about a
specific type of insect? Patron Yes, ladybugs
and June Beetles. Librarian Ok, what about
ladybugs and June Beetles would you like to
know? Patron I need to know how to get them out
of my garden. Librarian So you need information
about garden pests and how to get rid of
them. Patron Yes, exactly.
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Selection and Evaluation

• Print materials- financial considerations
• Review sources (i.e. Booklist, Library Journal,
  Publishers Weekly, Kirkus)
• The importance of peer-reviewed articles
  (scholarly)
• Web sites- .coms, .govs, .orgs, .edus- whats the
  difference?

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Evaluating web sites

• Authority
• Accuracy
• Objectivity
• Purpose
• Currency
• Design/Ease of Use

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Print resources

• A balanced collection
• Currency- if it isnt current, its not a
  reference book!
• How and why plays a such a huge role
• Ready Reference materials

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Top 50 Reference Books for Small and Medium
Sized Public Libraries

• See handout
• The bare minimum
• An almanac
• A set of encyclopedias
• An atlas
• A dictionary
• Local phone book / directory
• ???

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Local and government information

• Local phone books and directories
• Chamber of Commerce Directory
• Local government manuals
• Local colleges
• Public Codes / Laws
• Services Directory
• Other local libraries

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Online Resources(some of the best FREE ones)

• www.switchboard.com
• www.mapquest.com
• www.medlineplus.gov
• www.pbs.org
• www.census.gov
• www.irs.gov/formspubs
• www.nadaguides.com
• www.petersons.com
• www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual
• Any you would like to share?

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Reference and Research Databases

• NOVEL
• Watertown Daily Times
• Wilson Web
• Learning Express Library
• HeritageQuest Online
• Does your library have access to others?

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When your best isnt good enough

• Be familiar with other community resources to
  refer people to (law library, hospital library,
  municipal offices, social service agencies, etc.)
• NEVER send a patron away with these as your final
  words Sorry I couldnt help!