Discusses the results of the Wisconsin-Ohio Reference Evaluation Program (WOREP) that was used by the reference department at the Brandeis University (Massachusetts) library. Results are compared with an onsite evaluation to determine factors that influence the provision of high-quality reference service. (LRW)

Proposes that academic librarians use constructivist learning theory, primarily composition theory, to develop a pedagogy for the reference desk. Implies that reference is a form of teaching, and that to maximize their educational effectiveness, academic librarians need to approach reference transactions as academic conferences where teaching and…

Summarizes national survey findings of email reference services in academic and public libraries; describes types of email reference services for selected Colorado libraries; and focuses on a detailed overview and analysis of two years of Colorado State University's email reference experiences. (Author/LRW)

Analyzes survey results of university students who used the instant messaging (IM) reference service at Southern Illinois University Carbondale's library. Focuses on the results of two surveys, including a comparison of IM reference and traditional reference desk experiences; provides an overview of the IM reference system and usage data; and…

Research at a library at Utica College (New York) revealed that "roving" reference librarians provided more sophisticated and thorough service than "stationary" ones, improving student search strategies and prompting twice as much work with electronic resources as conventional service. Roving also boosted librarian-client…

To consolidate library public service points and reallocate staff resources, Old Dominion University Library (Virginia) transferred responsibility for government documents reference service to the library's main reference desk. A team-based approach was used to manage aspects of the merge, including training of reference desk staff and production…

Examines the relationship between bibliographic instruction and reference services in academic libraries. Highlights include historical definitions for the two services; results of a survey of academic librarians that investigated how they are connecting the two services; and recommendations for improving the teaching of information literacy at…

Compares a digital reference service that uses instant messaging with traditional, face-to-face reference based on experiences at the Southern Illinois University library. Addresses differences in reference questions asked, changes in the reference transaction, student expectations, bibliographic instruction, and librarian attitudes and procedures…

Uses empirical data from an obtrusive study of reference performance to explore the content validity of and assumptions about unobtrusive studies. Changes needed to improve unobtrusive studies of reference services are discussed, including the development of test questions representing all types of queries and supplementing the correct fill rate…

Information on freebasing cocaine was requested from reference librarians at six public and seven academic libraries. None of the librarians refused to offer assistance, although assistance varied in its extensiveness. None of the encounters involved a reference interview or bibliographic instruction. Arguments in support of information…

Reviews theory and research findings concerning service organizations, develops a model of the library reference process, and summarizes the results of a partial test of the model in five academic libraries in northern California. The roles of clients and service providers are explored, and variables that influence service outcomes are discussed.…

Discussion of bibliographic instruction (BI) in academic libraries focuses on a search of the literature in nonlibrary journals that was conducted to determine the significance of BI to those outside the library profession, especially faculty. The need for library-faculty cooperation is discussed, and the authorship of BI articles is examined. (23…

Discusses academic library liaison programs and describes the restructuring of a liaison program at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte to help strengthen the relationship between the library and the teaching faculty. Also reports results of a survey of selected departments that assessed the effectiveness of reference librarians as…

Includes three articles: (1) describes a collaboration that investigated integrity within the distributed nature of digital libraries through value-added surrogates; (2) describes the digitization of special collections at the University of Iowa libraries; and (3) explains the Collaborative Digital Reference Service (CDRS) being developed by the…

Explains how reference, acquisitions, and serials staff at the University of New Mexico library collaborated to develop systematic procedures to improve the management of problematic serials and monographs in the reference department. Serials reference work is discussed and use of the INNOPAC integrated system is described. (Author/LRW)