reference is dead! long live reference! the future of reference services

T h e f u t u r e......

Reference is Dead!

http://zebratigerfish.blogspot.com/2013/06/militar-flags-from-howls-moving-castle.html

Long Live Reference!

http://zebratigerfish.blogspot.com/2013/06/militar-flags-from-howls-moving-castle.html

The Future of Reference Services

http://zebratigerfish.blogspot.com/2013/06/militar-flags-from-howls-moving-castle.html

DonBoozer

KnowItNow24x7

The KING IS DEAD!Long Live the KING!

The KING IS DEAD!Long Live the KING!

Reference IS DEAD!Long Live Reference!

Reference IS DEAD!Long Live Reference!

Reference IS DEAD!Long Live Reference!

Reference IS DEAD!Long Live Reference!

#longliveref

MiriamMatteson

Kent State University

AngelaYoung

Reed Memorial Library

ChrisMay

Mansfield/Richland County Public Library

BillMeltzer

Worthington Libraries

MiriamMatteson

Kent State University

Future of ReferenceHow do I want it/us to be?

How do we get there?

Future of ReferenceI want it/us to be…

• Full of personal interaction

How do we get there?

Future of ReferenceI want it/us to be…

• Full of personal interaction

• Facilitators of conversation that helps create knowledge in our communities

How do we get there?

Future of ReferenceI want it/us to be…

• Full of personal interaction

• Facilitators of conversation that helps create knowledge in our communities

• Focused on outcomes

How do we get there?

Future of ReferenceI want it/us to be…

• Full of personal interaction

• Facilitators of conversation that helps create knowledge in our communities

• Focused on outcomes

How do we get there?

• Core skill sets, workforce development

Future of ReferenceI want it/us to be…

• Full of personal interaction

• Facilitators of conversation that helps create knowledge in our communities

• Focused on outcomes

How do we get there?

• Core skill sets, workforce development

• Boldly and curiously listen, think, analyze, and dream

Future of ReferenceI want it/us to be…

• Full of personal interaction

• Facilitators of conversation that helps create knowledge in our communities

• Focused on outcomes

How do we get there?

• Core skill sets, workforce development

• Boldly and curiously listen, think, analyze, and dream

• Really want to do it!

The future is now.

We are it.

AngelaYoung

Reed Memorial Library

Future of Children’s Referenceperceived by Angela Young

Books or No Books, that is the Question

Is Children’s Reference Dead? Or slowly dying? Reports and Interests Changes

Assist with technology (PowerPoint, Word, Google Images, AR Lists, etc.

Reference Interview Ask open ended questions on assignment Detective work true nature of question

Common Core Standards Interest and needs of informational text.

Books Reference Section in Children’s Informational text Examples

Major problems with Children’s Reference and Solutions

Problems with providing reference in Children’s Teachers Create assignments with obscure scientists or

inventors Books not always available No knowledge of alternate resources

Solutions- Teach how to use databases and homework assistance

websites Provide courses for classrooms and teachers Work with school librarians and teachers

INVENTOR OF THE POST-IT-NOTE

ChrisMay

Mansfield/Richland County Public Library

Chris May’s Thoughts and Rants

Future of Reference

Professional development/continuing ed is NOT:

• A day out of the office

• An excuse to get away from those pesky patrons

• An excuse to get away from management

• “Eh, maybe I’ll learn something. Whatever.”

Professional Engagement

Why did you go for the MLIS or take continuing ed opportunities?

• To learn a career and serve the public?

• Or to get the rubber stamp for the job?

Think back to when you first started…

What was the goal?

Professional Engagement

“I didn’t get my MLIS to work the

desk.”

Kern hears complaints from students that the MLS has “too much theory”

“I am concerned by students’ inability to think critically and connect theory with the practical. I do not believe there is too much theory, but there might be a theory-practice gap.”

The Theory-Practice Gap

How can we initiate EFFECTIVE change within our organizations without knowledge of the theory?

• Guess work?

• Latest fads?

• What’s easiest for staff?

Do these fit our values?

The Theory-Practice Gap

There are two types of change within libraries:

1. Looking at the latest fads and gearing our resources around them. Basically, completely redefining what we do in the hope of “staying relevant”.

2. Looking at our mission and values and seeing how we can promote these in different ways. Change grows from these core values.

Change

Back to Kern- “Libraries risk a lot when they define themselves around changes as an attempt to stay relevant.”

Change can be fun, quirky, innovative, community-centered and still fit the common goals and mission of the library.

Relying only upon the numbers can lead us down a dark path.

Change

Promoting traditional services in new ways.

Databases/Library Catalog

Readers’ Advisory Personalized reading lists. Filled out online and fulfilled via email.

Book Groups

Examples

• Streaming music/video services

• Bestsellers

• Video games

• MakerSpaces

• The newest DVDs at the library

What are we promoting?

Ok, good stuff…but does the staff:

• Promote the research databases?

• Reach out to small businesses?

• Learn the *gasp* print Reference collection?

• Take continuing ed classes?

• Promote the ENTIRE collection?

What are we promoting?

We just don’t get many “real” reference questions at the desk. Why focus on that other stuff?

Look at the increase in traditional services like:

• Personalized readers’ advisory services

• Promoting reading/reference resources through blogs & social media

• Business and investing reference work

• Increase in number of databases to which libraries subscribe

• Homework Help stations

I know what you’re thinking…

I’m almost done. Hang in there.

Joseph Janes (2003) article “What is Reference for?”

History Lesson

Number/variety of information services increased

Increased complexity

Difficulty increases and people cannot find what they’re looking for

All that leads to:

History Lesson

“an increase in the number and diversity of people using libraries…

leading to a wider range of information needs and enquiries

and sophistication with the search for information”

This was the original reason for reference work. Sounds familiar,

doesn’t it?

BillMeltzer

Worthington Libraries

Reference Matters:A Reluctant Eulogy

Bill MeltzerAdult Services Librarian

Six Chix, September 26, 2014. ©Benita Epstein

O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,And men have lost their reason.William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar III, ii, 110

Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States.

W.E.B. DuBois

Address to the NationDelivered at the second annual meeting of the Niagara MovementHarper's Ferry, West Virginia, 16 August 1900

Time for Questions…

• Please hand in note cards• Twitter: #longliveref

• Buttons

• Twitter: #longliveref

• Discuss at your libraries!

• Slides: http://www.slideshare.net/donboozer• Articles mentioned, readings recommended (PDF): http://tinyurl.com/FutureRefReading

Keep the conversation going…