Reference Services in Rural Libraries

Abstract

The information age has changed libraries of all types and sizes in ways that no one could have predicted. For a rural library, though, changes have been fast and furious and have made a dramatic impact on the very nature of the library and the services the library offers. Rural libraries went from a gathering place for community activities to fully wired information centers in a matter of a few years. The article addresses what these changes mean for reference services-one of the most basic functions of a public library. While people are consuming more information than ever, will the rural library be able to keep up with this demand even with the Internet? The article explores reference services in rural public libraries, using examples from libraries in central and northern Illinois, giving consideration to the nature of reference services, how they have changed over time, and how this compares to small libraries in a metropolitan setting.     

Battling the Biomedical Information Explosion

In 1980 an article appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine stating that two-thirds of the studies appearing in the best medical journals contain unwarranted conclusions. In order to deal with the ever increasing mass of biomedical information (termed a "journalistic blastoma" by one editor), IAIMS has extolled the use of quality filters, devices to sort through the literature and sift the good from the bad. The complexity of the task is staggering. Quality is obviously subjective, and its nature raises the question of whether our users can be taught the necessary skills to systematically evaluate the literature. This report is based on a research project that grew into an elective course for medical students at Texas Tech University School of Medicine on "Critical Appraisal of the Biomedical Literature."     

高校图书馆文献信息咨询服务的新思路

本文论述了新形势下高校图书馆文献信息咨询服务工作的新思路，并介绍了一些实际做法。     

E-Mail Reference as Substitute for Library Receptionist

SUMMARY

The authors explore the historical development of e-mail reference services in general, and report on the evolution of this service in their own library. Based on evidence from their own service and from reports in the literature, they propose a connection between e-mail reference service and broader library services including circulation, interlibrary loan, and even acquisitions, through which the reference librarian receives questions traditionally directed elsewhere. The e-ref button presents an unexpected avenue of librarian-to-librarian communication, both within and beyond one's home institution. Implications are discussed.     

An Evaluation of Online Reference Services Through Social Networking Sites in Selected Nigerian University Libraries

The study evaluated online reference services through social networking sites in selected university libraries in Nigeria. A survey approach was adopted to ascertain patrons’ level of awareness, their preferences, and the sources from which they were informed of the existence of the service. Findings revealed that patrons are aware that their university libraries are on social networks but are still not familiar with reference services. Facebook, Twitter, and Ask-a-Librarian were ranked as the most preferred methods for delivering online reference services, and online reference service was indicated as more convenient than traditional desk reference service because communication is available anywhere and anytime with a reference librarian and is easily accessible.     

Determining the Effectiveness of Digital Reference Services in Malaysian Academic Libraries

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of digital reference services in academic libraries in Malaysia. It focuses on the awareness, usage, users' perception, library's performance, perceived needs, issues, and problems faced by students. The research methodology employed was a case study approach that combined three data collection methods: questionnaires, interviews, and content analysis.     

试述我国公共图书馆应开展的基本服务

围绕公共图书馆教育、文化、信息服务、促进社会和谐及休闲娱乐五大职能展开论述了我国公共图书馆应开展的基本服务,主要包括培养阅读习惯、扫盲、信息素质教育、支持学校教育、支持终身教育、宣传推广文化、日常信息咨询服务、促进社会融合及为公众提供休闲娱乐等等。参考文献8。     

E-Mail Reference Evaluation

Abstract

E-mail reference has been utilized as a reference tool in academic libraries since the early 1980s. Today it is one of the most common media for providing digital reference service. An important aspect of providing any service is evaluating users' satisfaction levels with that service. Users of the Ask-A-Librarian e-mail reference service at a large academic library over a ten-month period voluntarily completed a seven item web-based questionnaire. The results indicated that the majority of respondents were satisfied with Ask-A-Librarian overall. This paper discusses how the library used the survey results to improve the existing service, and to implement a new one-chat reference. Reference service providers should not only ask users for feedback on existing services, but also should include them in the planning and design phase of new services. In doing so, they demonstrate their commitment to providing adequate and appropriate services to their patron community, and ultimately can save their institutions time and expense.     

澳大利亚公共图书馆的服务与管理

概括地介绍了澳大利亚的公共图书馆，包括国立图书馆、州立图书馆和一般的公共图书馆。文章以作者所工作的雅拉－墨尔本图书馆为具体例子，列举了图书馆的各项服务，并探讨图书馆的管理经验，特别是人员的结构和服务质量的衡量。     

Virtual Reference Services

Summary

Traditional reference services are changing in response to the rapid growth of electronic resources available outside of the library. There are an increasing number of libraries that are providing digital reference services to meet the demands and expectations of remote users. This article provides an overview of virtual reference services at Louisiana State University (LSU) Libraries. It also examines the planning, implementation, marketing and user feedback of real time reference service after its first year.     

我国公共图书馆“读写障碍症”服务的调查与对策分析

采用调查问卷的方法,面向广州图书馆的用户（主要是儿童家长）,针对以下方面展开调查：对读写困难症的认知、读写困难症现象的评估、有关信息的获取和交流途径、对图书馆读写困难症儿童服务的认知、预估及建议等。提出我国公共图书馆读写困难症儿童服务的对策,即提高社会认知程度,培养专业服务人员,加强资源环境建设,创新多种服务方式,加强多方合作交流等。     

谈数字图书馆的咨询服务

从数字图书馆的定义和功能出发，论述了数字图书馆参考咨询服务的必要性，并进一步阐明了数字咨询馆员的角色。     

Enhancing Reference Services Through Technology

Summary

Technology makes it possible for library users to ask reference questions using e-mail or forms on the web and for librarians to conduct reference interviews using chat or videoconferencing software. This article explores each of these technologies and their current and potential use in reference services. A discussion of how technology has changed the way librarians find answers to reference questions is followed by a review of the tools needed for a well-equipped reference desk.     

县区级公共图书馆在政府信息服务中的创新研究

论文基于对县区级公共图书馆政府信息服务的背景研究,分析其在提供政府信息服务中的优势与可行性,提出从理念、方式及经费等方面进行服务创新的建议与对策。     

知识管理与图书馆参考服务

在分析知识管理定义及其要素的基础上，提出应该在图书馆参考服务工作中实施知识管理策略，并从知识领航和管理模式两个方面讨论了知识管理在图书馆参考服务中的应用与实践。     

美国公共图书馆社区信息服务的发展及其启示

文章首先介绍了美国公共图书馆社区信息服务的产生与发展，其次说明社区信息服务在美国社区建设过程中所起到的作用，最后指出美国公共图书馆社区信息服务的发展给我国图书馆界的启示。作者认为，社区信息服务是我国公共图书馆向信息化发展的关键，而公共图书馆在开展社区信息服务的过程中应注重合作伙伴关系的建立、充分利用现有的信息技术，并注意服务的推广和用户的培训。     

试论数字图书馆的信息参考服务

信息参考服务是图书馆读者服务的一项重要内容。对用户来说,理想的数字图书馆信息参考服务模式是:智能化的数字图书馆系统、完善的用户教育培训加上高度有效的个别咨询三位一体的机制。表2。参考文献6。     

数字化参考咨询服务的特点及图书馆的发展策略

DRS代表了今后参考咨询服务发展的方向，也是目前图书馆界的大热点，它借助因特网的普及和完善在全球迅猛发展，文章详细论述了DRS的特点，并提出国内图书馆发展DRS的策略。     

Reference Services in Law Firm Environments

SUMMARY

Law firm libraries have undergone drastic changes in recent years. This chapter chronicles the evolution in the size of the law firm library and its collection, the changing expectations of law firm library users, and the inventive ways that law firm librarians are fulfilling the needs of the law firm library users with technology and other means. This chapter also explores how law firm libraries can improve service and overall efficiency through limited outsourcing of reference services.     

公共服务中的图书馆服务

公共服务是图书馆服务的根本属性。作为公共服务重要组成部分的图书馆服务应体现以下基本原则:公平原则、公益性原则、无差别原则、适度原则、资源与服务的共享原则、不断发展原则。公共图书馆要处理好现代数字化信息服务与传统的实体文献借阅服务的关系,处理好大众性的一般借阅和各种形式的文献信息提供服务与参考咨询等专业化水平较高的服务的关系。在为公众提供基本的公共服务的同时,不能放弃图书馆服务能力不断提高的机会。参考文献8。