Reference service for the internet community: A case study of the internet public library reference division

The creation of the Internet Public Library Reference Division is presented in the historical context of librarians' efforts to integrate the use of technologies with reference services. The article examines ways that librarians have successfully incorporated new technologies, and makes recommendations about how these strategies can be applied to the Reference Division and to Internet usage for the reference process in general.     

Quality reference service: A preliminary case study

A general reference department achieved a high score on the Wisconsin-Ohio Reference Evaluation Program. Intensive use of electronic resources, a good reference collection, good architecture, administrative support, and, most importantly, adequate time provided by the consultation model contributed, in this case, to high-quality service.     

Eliminating traditional reference services in an academic health sciences library: a case study

Question:

How were traditional librarian reference desk services successfully eliminated at one health sciences library?

Setting:

The analysis was done at an academic health sciences library at a major research university.

Method:

A gap analysis was performed, evaluating changes in the first eleven months through analysis of reference transaction and instructional session data.

Main Results:

Substantial increases were seen in the overall number of specialized reference transactions and those conducted by librarians lasting more than thirty minutes. The number of reference transactions overall increased after implementing the new model. Several new small-scale instructional initiatives began, though perhaps not directly related to the new model.

Conclusion:

Traditional reference desk services were eliminated at one academic health sciences library without negative impact on reference and instructional statistics. Eliminating ties to the confines of the physical library due to staffing reference desk hours removed one significant barrier to a more proactive liaison program.     

Expanding roles in a library-based bioinformatics service program: a case study

Question:

How can a library-based bioinformatics support program be implemented and expanded to continuously support the growing and changing needs of the research community?

Setting:

A program at a health sciences library serving a large academic medical center with a strong research focus is described.

Methods:

The bioinformatics service program was established at the Norris Medical Library in 2005. As part of program development, the library assessed users'' bioinformatics needs, acquired additional funds, established and expanded service offerings, and explored additional roles in promoting on-campus collaboration.

Results:

Personnel and software have increased along with the number of registered software users and use of the provided services.

Conclusion:

With strategic efforts and persistent advocacy within the broader university environment, library-based bioinformatics service programs can become a key part of an institution''s comprehensive solution to researchers'' ever-increasing bioinformatics needs.     

Goals, objectives, and competencies for reference service: a training program at the UCLA Biomedical Library

The UCLA Biomedical Library, in cooperation with the UCLA Graduate School of Library and Information Science, offers a medical library internship program for second-year library school students. Goals, objectives, competencies, and training guidelines have been developed for the reference services section of the internship, including reference desk experience, online searching, group discussions, assigned readings, and training new staff members, allows flexibility in meeting the differing interests, needs, and abilities of trainees.     

The role of the information specialist in supporting knowledge transfer: a public health information case study

Objectives: To create research bulletins for public health professionals that support knowledge transfer and evidence‐based practice. Methods: The methodology for the bulletins comprises five stages: scoping the topic, searching for relevant literature, selecting and obtaining relevant articles, assessing the quality of articles including evidence grading, producing a comment on quality and implications for practice and writing the research bulletin. An ABC—applicability, brevity and clarity—is considered at each stage to ensure that bulletins meet the needs of their intended audience. Results: Nine research bulletins have been produced on a range of health promotion topics. Bulletins are distributed to Welsh health professionals and are available online. The bulletins have developed since their inception to incorporate evaluation and feedback. Most significant among these developments has been introduction of an Implications for Practice section to promote uptake of research. Conclusions: Research bulletins support busy health professionals in evidence‐based practice by assigning a level of evidence, highlighting implications for practice and providing a comment on quality. The bulletins further develop the extended role for information professionals in knowledge transfer and dissemination.     

Preparing public librarians for consumer health information service: A nationwide study

A nationwide survey study was conducted to gain understanding as to how to prepare public librarians for consumer health information service. Findings indicate that the popular health information needs encountered by public librarians cover a wide variety of topics, including the human body, a medical/health condition, a disease, a medical concept, and fitness/diet/nutrition. The top two challenges faced by public librarians when providing consumer health information service are difficulty in interpreting patrons' questions and lack of knowledge about available and trusted/appropriate medical/health information sources. Public librarians wish to receive training on a number of topics that could help address the challenges they face, and the most favorable training format for them, among all the options provided in the survey, is the self-paced online tutorial. This study constitutes the basis for establishing training requirements and developing training programs to meet the needs of public librarians. Their mastery of the necessary skills, knowledge and competencies via training will lead to effective and efficient delivery of consumer health information service in public libraries, and ultimately generate optimal patron experiences.     

移动参考咨询服务模式研究

文章探讨了移动参考咨询服务产生与发展过程,阐述了移动参考咨询的特点、内容、手段,并重点论述了移动参考咨询的服务模式及发展对策。     

Voter Registration Services at an Academic Library: A Non-Traditional Reference Service

Academic library reference services are ideally suited to register students to vote. Voter registration services may be more commonly associated with public library settings, but experiences in an academic library at Illinois State University in the autumn of 2004, 2008, and 2012 indicate that we provided a valuable service to our campus community—one that filled a need for the library’s primary clientele of undergraduate students, most ranging in age from 18 to 24 years and eligible to vote for the first time. Aspects of voter registration are similar in style to reference interviews. Providing a non-traditional service is also an effective avenue for outreach to students and community organizations, as well as to state and municipal agencies.     

The establishment of an academic health sciences library in a developing country: a case study

The development of a Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) and an academic health sciences library for the University of the West Indies (UWI) has proven to be a polemical and political issue due to the depressed economy of the country. Although FMS is still shrouded in politics and controversy after its inaugural year, the Medical Sciences Library (MSL) has expanded its dimensions and is actively developing a biomedical information network within the country. This will result in better dissemination and control of biomedical information. The library now participates in joint projects with other health sciences libraries in the country with the goal of joint automated listings of holdings and shared cataloging projects. This paper examines the development of the library and explains the difficulties experienced in its developmental stages due to politics, the delay in appointment of a medical sciences librarian, and the financial decline in the local economy.     

图书馆数字化参考咨询中的互动效应

论述数字化参考咨询与信息技术、用户、其他参考咨询机构之间的互动效应。     

The University of Texas at Arlington's Virtual Reference Service

Abstract

The University of Texas at Arlington's Library began using an online chat reference in 2002. The service, called Collaborative Digital Reference Service, later became “Ask a Librarian.” Slightly over one year later, the library joined the University of Texas System's “Ask a Librarian” service. Both services are powered by software suite called QuestionPoint. In May 2003 and May 2004, the library's reference staff shared their views towards this new reference tool by completing a questionnaire. Statistics and staff members' responses are analyzed in this study.     

基于群体协作的移动参考咨询服务模式探析

泛在的移动环境为图书馆的参考咨询提供了新的契机,同时群体协作理念又为其注了新的活力.论文融合“移动”与“群体”两个思想,在此之上提出了基于群体协作的移动参考咨询服务模式.文中对此种模式的可行性进行分析,介绍该模式的流程运作,详细解说过程中的各个核心功能模块,并列举了系统建设需要注意的问题.     

现代参考服务的质量评价探析

文章对现代图书馆进行参考服务质量评价的内容、标准进行了论述，试图说明从读者角度对参考服务进行确实的评价是图书馆提高其服务质量的根本所在。     

新时期参考服务工作的转型

本文从分析信息源的改变入手,讨论了新时期图书馆参考服务工作的转型,认为转型主要体现在以下几个方面:1.参考服务内容从传统模式到紧跟时代步伐的转变;2.参考服务人员知识背景与业务技能的转变;3.参考服务的岗位与职责的转变。文后提出如何适应转型的几点看法。     

The International Component of Reference Work at the Science Reference and Information Service,The British Library

No abstract available for this article.