The importance ofThe importance of reference services towards patrons

Prepared by : Fadzilah Binti Hussin

Reference services act as a medium between patrons, collection and services provided by the library.p y y

PerpustakaanHamzah

Reference services

Patrons

Sendut

“we can see a relationship between patrons and its library functions by having a greatwe can see a relationship between patrons and its library functions by having a great reference services offered in a library”

Functions of Reference Services

Commonly, reference

1. Personal assistance to user with information needs.

reference services

perceived in three levels 2. Formal and informal library use instruction designed to provide

namely:- users with guidance and direction in the pursuit of information.

3. Indirect reference service which provides the user with access toinformation and bibliographical sources through interlibrary loan andinter- agency cooperationinter- agency cooperation.

The Importance of Reference ServicesServices

1.Opportunities in the Digital Age- emergence of digital reference.

2.Reference Services as a teaching function- workshop on ILS, OPAC,endnote, etc.

3.Help to establish a relationship between a user and information needed-byp p ycall, e-mail, live chat, etc.

4. Act as a bridge to reach the right information in completing a research-reference counter as a middleware to answer any queries by respected usersy q y p

5. To fulfill users information need by offering many ways to communicatewith reference librarians- by social networking such as Facebook, blog, etc.

Should be flexible

Should embrace change

LibrariansShould embrace change

Should conduct environmental scans

Should think outside the box, the library, and the reference desk

:Future reference services must:1 Evolve with social trends1.Evolve with social trends.

2.Be easy to use.

3.Be readily available.

4 Provide choices4.Provide choices.

5.Respond to information needs.

6.Utilize appropriate technology.

7 Be cost effective7.Be cost effective.

References

Rader, H. B. (1980). Reference services as a teaching function. Retrieved from https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/7126/library..?sequence=1

Dallis, D., & Walters, C. (2006), Reference services in the commons environment, Reference ServicesReview 34 (2):pp 248 260 doi:10 1108/00907320610669489ServicesReview, 34 (2):pp. 248 – 260. doi:10.1108/00907320610669489

Abels, E. (2005).The future of reference services. Retrieved from http://www.lib.umd.edu/groups/irst/dateline/FoRppt.ppt