It has been almost 50 years since Robert Taylor published his classic 1968 article, "Question-Negotiation and Information Seeking in Libraries," in "College & Research Libraries"; yet much of what that article discussed is as fresh today as it was back then. It has been identified as a classic because it has enduring themes…

Cheney's paper was the first major article on the subject of teaching reference in American library schools. In the article, she addressed three questions: (1) Who is teaching reference?; (2) What is being taught?; and (3) How is it being taught? In this article, Linda Smith discusses how the teaching of reference has changed in the more than 50…

In this article, I imagine a library that prioritizes teaching users how to find, evaluate, and use information over the traditional library public service activities of collection development, access to materials, and reference services. If I ran the library, all services would support end-user education. (Contains 1 graph and 1 note.)

This essay describes a web site evaluation project which served as the final assignment for an undergraduate "Introduction to Religion" course. The essay discusses lessons learned from the design and implementation of this web-based research assignment over three consecutive semesters. It includes insights from an instructor and a reference…

There's a lot of focus on the "Next Gen" librarians out there bringing a youth perspective that's supposed to shake things up and introducing new ideas and practices into a profession that sometimes moves forward at a glacial pace. But the ideas of the new generation do not invalidate the work done by those who came before. In fact, change in…

Over the years, as new technology became available, the author always tried to use it to improve his interactions with patrons. He wanted to make librarians' services friendlier and more personalized. The author stresses that social software was never really about the software; the "social" part of it was always the most crucial. One of the best…

"Embracing the chaos" is an ongoing challenge for librarians. Embracing the chaos means librarians must have a plan for responding to the flood of new products, widgets, web tools, and gizmos that students use daily. In this article, the author argues that library instruction and access services have been grappling with that chaos with…

In this article, the author talks about Twitter, a micro-blogging Web site, and how librarians can use Twitter to interact with students and to monitor actual usage of library services. He shares what he has learned from twittering with library users. He learned that Twitter expands the reach of research assistance. With students using the social…

Our article provides new reference librarians with practical recommendations and learning plans so that they can succeed as liaisons. Drawing from our experiences as new librarians, we explain how to practice continual learning, stay on top of the constantly changing environment of a liaison, pilot different techniques, and assess liaison work.

Presents opinions on the rapid growth of online databases and advice for users gathered from nine experts in the information field. (MES)

Provides background on the establishment of the Congressional Research Service, focusing on the growth of reference services and special librarianship during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The contributions of Melvil Dewey and Charles McCarthy, as well as legislative reference work in the Library of Congress, are discussed. (10…

Identifies the major aspects of reference service and develops three theories of reference work (minimum, middling, and maximum) based on the application of these activities in various types of libraries. A case is then made for amplified reference services, and suggestions are offered for dealing with the problems of reference service expansion.…

This essay argues that the reference librarian is an intellectual, peculiarly equipped to have technology work for the librarian rather than the librarian for technology. It is a conviction that all people, not just a celebrated few, must be served by reference librarians. Twenty-one references are included. (Author/EJS)

Draws on current social science literature and applies it to the library reference setting in order to identify the symptoms of burnout in reference librarians. Remedies are suggested for individuals afflicted by burnout. A reference list and bibliography are included. (JL)

Discusses the changes necessitated as the Library of Congress moves towards adoption of "Anglo-American Cataloging Rules 2 (AACR 2)," increases its use of automation in technical service procedures, and explores how such changes will disrupt a patron's ability to find materials or information locally. (Author)