Envisioning the Future of Reference: Trends, Reflections, and Innovations

(Paperback)

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Offering a broad overview of consequential changes in the landscape of reference services, this guide also provides practical guidance on how to meet the new challenges they present. For the past decade, librarians have been lamenting the demise of reference services. Encouraging recent research shows that reference librarians are actually in more demand than ever; however, nearly everything about reference has changedfrom technologies, tools, and techniques to models of service. What are these changes, and how can the profession respond to and prepare for shifting priorities and user needs In this volume, business librarians Diane Zabel and Lauren Reiter bring together a host of experts to answer these timely questions. Topics range from the education and training of professionals to meeting the needs and wants of employers. Covered are trends in chat reference, research consultations, do-it-yourself reference, tracking trends with user populations, assessment, and data-driven decisions about reference services. Grounded in the principle that, regardless of the evolutions in service, the user remains at the center of reference, this guide offers readers an exciting look at the future of this important public service.

Reviews

This is an exemplary guide for adapting reference services. Highly recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, and professionals. * Choice *

Author Bio

Diane Zabel is Louis and Virginia Benzak Business Librarian and head of the Schreyer Business Library at The Pennsylvania State University. Lauren Reiter is Sally W. Kalin Librarian for Learning Innovations and business liaison librarian at The Pennsylvania State University Libraries.