lesson 1 Flashcards
What are reference and information services?
They are essential services in libraries that help users efficiently and accurately access information.
These services represent the public face of access to information in libraries.
Who is known as the father of Reference Services?
Samuel Swett Green
He published the first article on helping patrons use the library in 1876.
What did William Warner Bishop define reference work as in 1915?
The service rendered by a librarian in aid of some sort of study.
He emphasized that reference work is an organized effort to make the most expeditious and fruitful use of library books.
What was the significance of Charles Williamson’s report in 1923?
It underscored the importance of specialized training for librarians in reference work.
The report included course descriptions for standard reference works.
What are the objectives of reference service?
- Protect and arrange the collection
- Present the collection before the readers
- Have trained and professional librarians
- Encourage coordination between employees and readers
- Save the time of the reader
- Conduct fact-finding research
- Develop the library
- Maximize use of reference services
These objectives aim to ignite a user’s sense of wonder about library resources.
What are the eight basic steps in the reference process?
- Identify essential information in the user request
- Clarify the query (reference interview)
- Refine the user’s statement into keywords
- Formulate a search strategy
- Identify categories of reference tools
- Select a specific title to search
- Locate the answer within the selected title
- Select an accurate and useful answer
The process is iterative and may require re-negotiation of the query.
What is the role of the reference interview?
To translate the patron’s question into one that can be answered with the library’s resources.
It is considered an intermediate step between the patron’s question and the ideal resource.
What are the five important elements of the reference interview according to RUSA?
- Approachability
- Interest
- Listening/Inquiring
- Searching
- Follow up
These elements ensure a good reference interview experience.
True or False: The reference interview is more of a science than an art.
False
It requires adaptability to context rather than the application of predetermined skills.
What are the Five Laws of Library Science as outlined by S. R. Ranganathan?
- Books are for use
- Every person his or her book
- Every book its reader
- Save the time of the reader
- The library is a growing organism
These laws are relevant to reference service, especially the fourth law.
What is a reference source?
A book designed to be consulted for definitive items of information rather than read consecutively.
Reference sources can include books, serials, online databases, or the internet.
List some criteria used for evaluating reference sources.
- Authority
- Currency
- Audience
- Accuracy
- Accessibility
These criteria help ensure the reliability and relevance of reference materials.
What is a bibliography?
A comprehensive list of documents essential for academic research.
Bibliographies serve several functions, including documentation and preservation of knowledge.
What are the types of bibliographies?
- Annotated
- Enumerative
- Descriptive
Each type serves different purposes in research and information organization.
What is the purpose of abstracts?
- Assist readers in deciding whether to read a full text
- Enable users to note important findings
- Allow quick location of information
- Save time by providing an overview
Abstracts summarize essential content without independent literary value.
