Reference Service Assessment

I conducted an assessment of various reference services for the course LIS 60601: Information Sources and Reference Services. It connects to PLO One: Apply the field’s foundational theories, principles, values, ethics, and skills to everyday practice, and PLO Three: Analyze and engage in the changing cultural, educational and social roles and responsibilities of librarians/information professionals and the environments they work in within the global society. I asked the same reference question (and follow up questions) at three different libraries from different systems, and used a different method each time, in that at one library I asked the reference question in person, in another I called, and in another I sent them an email message to their online system. I then evaluated each experience based on the RUSA Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers, demonstrating the ways librarians adapt to new different forms of communication for reference interviews, and gave me ideas and perspective on how I conduct reference interviews in practice. This project aligns with and demonstrates the RUSA Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers.