at the University of Southern California Libraries

Sara Tompson, Associate Dean, Public ServiceCatherine Quinlan, Dean of the USC Libraries

Reference Renaissance

• The University of Southern California and the USC Libraries

• Changing Paradigms & Practices

• Doheny Memorial Library

Reference Renaissance: Outline

The USC Libraries• 23 libraries and

information centers, including health sciences

• 240 library faculty and staff

• 4.2 million volumes

• E-resources (93K journals; 1.2K research databases)

• Doheny Memorial Library (pictured) opened in 1932

• The Essential Library 2008-2009.– Planning committee– Libraries-wide forums– 300 objectives into 14 priorities– Foundational– Implementation task forces

• Customer Service – including Reference

Strategic Planning I

• The Essential Library 2011-2013.– Committee of the whole; Libraries-wide

forums– Invited speakers; broad distribution of draft

plan– More aspirational document– Dean’s Cabinet overseeing implementation – “Increase our capacity to deliver, evaluate,

and improve reference services”

Strategic Planning II

The USC Libraries will be an innovative, inspiring, and integral partner in the scholarly achievements of USC faculty, students and staff.

USC Libraries Vision

The USC Libraries actively support the discovery, creation, and preservation of knowledge.

We develop collections and services that support and encourage the academic endeavors of faculty, students, and staff; build a community of critical consumers of information; and help develop engaged world citizens.

Through these means, we contribute to the continued success of the University of Southern California.

USC Libraries Mission

• Service excellence• Integrity• Scholarly inquiry• Innovation• Effective

communication• Social responsibility• Library as place

USC Libraries Values

QR code for Discoverability link

• Trends– Rise of

Interweb and E-resources

– Decline in face-to-face (rise in virtual)

Changing Paradigms and Practices: Reference Desks

http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/sonntag-palsson.htm

• Relevance?– Hotly debated in library literature since

1986• Continuum: close desks change nothing

– Nolen’s 2010 "Reforming or Rejecting the Reference Desk: Conflict and Continuity in the Concept of Reference" in Library Philosophy & Practice provides overview

Changing Paradigms and Practices: Reference Desks

• Revalidations– Natural swing to balance?– Clear need for instruction in research– 2007 ACRL panel “The Reference

Question” – some anecdotes on renaissance

– Ubiquitous Librarian blogger, 2008: 14% of ARL Libraries saw reference increases

Changing Paradigms and Practices: Reference Desks

• Electronic phenomenon – Web 2.0, Library 2.0– See M.E. Casey & LC. Savastinuk,

“Library 2.0” Library Journal 09/01/06 (online)

• Ripples in physical world– “PSN”: complementing virtual reactions

with physical ones– ACM and IEEE papers identified early on

Changing Paradigms and Practices: Social Networking

• One-stop-shop (2004+): Reference in Circulation Consultation Room– Less visible, despite signage– Increased desire to retreat– Removed from most of Reference

collection– Usage dropped, despite hope one-stop

would boost

Doheny Library Reference Desk

• Relocation of Service– User input

recommended return to LA Times room site

• Pilots– Fall 2008 – 1

month – at Circ desk

– Acad Year 09-10 in Times room

• Surveys – fall 2008 & spring 2010– Improvement in finding reference staff– Very positive about location– Very desirable study location (even sans

outlets)– Large use by freshmen (a bit surprising)– #100 sample size

Doheny Desk Renaissance

• Statistics– Fall 09 over Fall 08 ~72% increase!

• Signs, stories helped• Increased instruction sessions helped

– Fall 2010, decrease by ~ 5 ?s/day average

– Room headcount• Fall 2009 ~ 39% > Fall 2008• Spring stats less dramatic, but some

increase

Doheny Desk Renaissance

Conclusions• Move a definite

success • Virtual reference

also growing• Hybrid reference

model for the foreseeable future

• More groups participating in and with USC Libraries in other ways as wellcquinlan@usc.edu

sarat@usc.eduhttp://www.usc.edu/libraries

http://bit.ly/h2NHXj

See paper for complete list.

Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk, “Library 2.0”, Library Journal, September 1, 2006.

The Essential Library: 2011-2013 (Los Angeles, University of Southern California, USC Libraries, 2010), https://www.usc.edu/libraries/essential/ .

Barbara Ford, “Reference Beyond (and without) the Reference Desk,” College & Research Libraries 47, no.5 (September 1986): 491-494.

Brian Mathews, “While Reference Stats Decline, Oregon surges +51%. A Glimpse at Some ARL Outliers,” The Ubiquitous Librarian blog, December 18, 2008.

Reference Desk Renaissance: Resources

David S. Nolen, "Reforming or Rejecting the Reference Desk: Conflict and Continuity in the Concept of Reference," Library Philosophy and Practice (2010): 1-9.

Marie L. Radford and Scott Vine, “An Exploration of the Hybrid Reference Service Model: Keeping What Works” in Reference Reborn: Breathing New Life into Public Services Librarianship, ed. Diane Zabel (Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited/ABC Clio, 2011).

Mark Twain. “Chapters from my Autobiography: I”. North American Review DXCVIII, September 7, 1906.

Gabriela Sonntag and Felicia Palsson, “No Longer the Sacred Cow -No Longer a Desk: Transforming Reference Service to Meet 21st Century User Needs,” Library Philosophy and Practice 2007.

Reference Desk Renaissance: Resources, p.2