The Reference Interview Today

by Susan Knoer

Overview

Learn and perfect the skills needed to conduct satisfying reference interviews in the modern technological environment with this easy-to-use guide.

In today's technology-driven world, reference librarians must serve users who come into the building as well as remote users who ask via various digital means. With virtual reference and social networking tools now commonplace, reference questions have become more complex and interdisciplinary. The Reference Interview Today will help reference librarians decide which tools and strategies will best serve their diverse group of patrons—in person and in cyberspace.

This text covers the skills needed for traditional face-to-face reference and how they can be applied in 2.0 media. Best practices for culturally diverse, disabled, and "difficult" patrons; strategies for public and academic libraries; and virtual technologies like Twitter and Second Life are described. Written by a practicing reference librarian, this invaluable book makes it easy to train paraprofessionals and serves as a guide for experienced librarians to hone their skills in new delivery methods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598848229
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/02/2011
Series:	Libraries Unlimited Library Management Collection
Pages:	156
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Susan Knoer teaches a reference class online for the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.

Table of Contents

Introduction: You Don't Have to Learn It (All) Again vii

1 Reference Face-to-Face 1

2 Special Patrons and Questions 23

3 Cultural Differences 35

4 Live Online-Chat, Push, and Cobrowsing 47

5 Short Bursts-Tweets, Text, and the Next Big Thing 57

6 Asynchronous Reference 65

7 Your Abilities with Disabilities 75

8 Virtual Reference in Second Life and Virtual Worlds 87

9 From Theory to Practice-New Librarians and Paraprofessionals 95

10 Special Libraries-Law, Medical, Corporate, Private, and Archives 115

11 I'm Asking for My … Child, Friend, Parent, Boss 129

Index 137