Argues that reference librarians serve as consultants at the point of interaction as they educate patrons in the use of the online catalog and demonstrate their role in finding and providing information. Specific areas of consultation are discussed as is the relationship of formal instruction to point of use instruction. (10 references) (MES)

Summarizes the results of 11 selected studies of the accuracy of reference services and identifies six modes of failure of reference services. Methods of detecting and reducing failure in each of these modes are then discussed. (17 references) (MES)

Describes the World Wide Web "work page" of the Saginaw Valley State University Library (Michigan). Discusses the work page's goals: provide reference librarians with quick Internet access, reflect particular Internet uses, and contain the most-often-used search tools and resources all on one screen. Examines advantages of the work…

Discusses academic library users who are not affiliated with the institution and considers the problems associated with them. Ethical issues are raised; possible solutions are suggested, including guidelines, bibliographic instruction, and user fees; and policies implemented at the University of California at Berkeley regarding unaffiliated users…

Discussion of occupational mistakes focuses on a study of mistakes in reference performance of librarians, paraprofessionals, and student assistants at an academic library. Topics discussed include technical and judgment errors, redefining the reference process, normative errors, instructional goals of the reference staff, and suggestions for…

Examines the use of CD-ROMs by undergraduates within the larger context of the debate over what constitutes reference service. The author argues that technology has sidetracked reference librarians and that electronic resources have increased the need for a thorough reference interview and bibliographic instruction. (20 references) (KRN)

A survey of statements of philosophy on reference and bibliographic instruction from libraries in small, Chicago area liberal arts colleges and universities revealed a wide variety of relationships between the two services. The study concluded that most of the libraries surveyed compartmentalized reference and bibliographic instruction. (PEN)

Offers insight from academic librarians into changes that occur when librarians become teachers. Discusses the rewards of developing long-term relationships with and a better understanding of students; effects of librarians having less time at the reference desk because of spending time on teaching; teaching as a focus of professional development;…

Describes a study that examined the use of electronic mail reference service in three library units at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Highlights include patron demographics, question classification, and use patterns; and recommendations for further research. (Author/LRW)

Explains conjoint analysis and its use in marketing research and describes an evaluation of reference services in academic libraries that used conjoint analysis to determine user preference regarding the importance of definitiveness of answer, waiting time, service time, number of items found, hours of available service, and cost. (Contains 13…

Explains why student-athletes on college and university campuses are chosen as a special group for library instruction outreach programs. Gives a brief history of library instruction to athletes' programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, emphasizing the collaboration between the academic advisors of the athletes and the instruction…

An information services organization based on individual constituent groups, instead of defined physical collections and technologies, encourages a broader, more effective, and innovative use of varying information and technology services for academic libraries. Such a model also provides more focused and clearly defined positions and procedures…

Discusses the new emphasis in special collections, especially in academic libraries, on the promotion of materials. Highlights include the economic basis of promotion; exhibitions; classroom ventures; the Web; seminars and other discussion groups; creative writing courses; one-time events; friends, tourists, and the public; and reference services.…

This document is composed of three bibliographies that were handed out during a section of an American Library Association conference dealing with education and behavioral sciences and more narrowly, with how techniques borrowed from these disciplines can improve the effectiveness of reference services. The handouts are a 24-item bibliography on…

Efforts have been made by the Cornell University Libraries (New York) reference staff to assist students with their library research for a popular undergraduate course in human sexuality. Librarians have found the course to be a serious problem for both their reference and stack collections as most students do not understand research strategy,…