The Roles of Reference Librarians

Readers will find the book addresses questions vital to the future of the field, including:

• What trends are reshaping reference services and the roles played by reference librarians?
• What skills are necessary for the reference librarian of the future?
• How can librarian skills be applied in nontraditional settings?
• How many librarians will pursue nontraditional careers?
• Are librarians missing the point on how information options are presented to the public?
• What organizational structures of academic libraries are emerging?
• Can librarians maintain and enhance their value as information specialists?

  Readers of The Roles of Reference Librarians witness how developing and maintaining community connections can improve nearly every aspect of library service, including staff recruitment and development, collection development, access, funding, and programs. The future roles of libraries and librarians, according to this book, depends on their ability to interact with their communities, develop public relations and marketing savvy, and adapt to the changing information needs of their communities. Readers see how a flexible attitude and approach towards technology, an ability to adjust to the rapid pace of changing technology, strong communications skills, and the capacity to serve a diverse clientele will help them meet the ever-changing challenges in the field.

With the electronic revolution currently transforming the traditional ways libraries are designed and the ways in which information is retrieved, reference librarians often feel overwhelmed and uncertain of their future as information providers. The Roles of Reference Librarians assesses the current state of reference librarianship and anticipates that the quickly-changing trends of today will not diminish the importance of reference librarians tomorrow. As the book illustrates, with up-to-date skills and knowledge reference librarians can reshape reference services to ensure that information remains manageable for all library users.

Readers will find the book addresses questions vital to the future of the field, including:

• What trends are reshaping reference services and the roles played by reference librarians?
  
• What skills are necessary for the reference librarian of the future?
  
• How can librarian skills be applied in nontraditional settings?
  
• How many librarians will pursue nontraditional careers?
  
• Are librarians missing the point on how information options are presented to the public?
  
• What organizational structures of academic libraries are emerging?
  
• Can librarians maintain and enhance their value as information specialists?

  Readers of The Roles of Reference Librarians witness how developing and maintaining community connections can improve nearly every aspect of library service, including staff recruitment and development, collection development, access, funding, and programs. The future roles of libraries and librarians, according to this book, depends on their ability to interact with their communities, develop public relations and marketing savvy, and adapt to the changing information needs of their communities. Readers see how a flexible attitude and approach towards technology, an ability to adjust to the rapid pace of changing technology, strong communications skills, and the capacity to serve a diverse clientele will help them meet the ever-changing challenges in the field.

Booknews

The principle librarian for the California State Library in Sacramento contends that the skills of reference librarians will become more rather than less important as information migrates to electronic media. She suggests how to apply skills to new technology and organizational structures, and emphasizes the crucial need to interact with the community. Also published as The Reference Librarian no. 54 (1996). Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)