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Ohio Reference Excellence on the Web from Ohio Library Council
Ohio Reference
Excellence
Ohio Library Council
Module Module 1
Introduction
Reference service
Community needs
First Contact
Misconceptions
Real needs
Reference process
Steps of process
Role of staff
Review 1
Quiz 1
Answer 1
About ORE
Home
Purpose
Instructions
Contact OLC
Contact SLO
Print Choices
Supervisor Tips
Copyright-Credits
Site Index

Module Module 1 Overview

Ohio Reference Excellence

Reference is a valuable community service provided by Ohio libraries.

     A necessary part of learning to do reference work is understanding what it is and why it's valuable.

What You Will Learn in Module 1

     What is reference and why is it important? What are the information needs of your community and of individuals who use your library? Do users understand what's available at libraries or know how to ask for the information they really need? Module 1 provides an overview and a professional context for learning reference process skills. (If you already have reference experience, ask your supervisor if you should start with Module 2.)

What's New? Library 2.0 and
Virtual Reference

     What's new? A current catchphrase is "Go where the users are." New technologies - and new generations - create new demands for mobile services such as developing library blogs to promote services, using wiki software to involve users in creating web site content, creating webcasts (Podcasts), working to integrate the catalog with other online systems for seamless information delivery, and subscribing to RSS feeds to keep up with the latest concepts. These technologies are part of Library 2.0, a term describing use in libraries of Web 2.0, the second phase of development of the World Wide Web.

     The new wave of web technologies are primarily collaborative. Many library users are dedicated to online communities for work, recreation, and sharing all aspects of life. Users no longer rely on big publishers and news corporations for information needs. Libraries should consider the advantages of the social aspect of these new Internet applications when planning, delivering, and marketing reference services.

 

Next!
 What is reference?

 

What's new in reference?

Keeping up with Library 2.0 and social software

Photo: flip phone web screen with colorful icons and menu

ALA TechSource
Blyberg.net
Information Wants To Be Free
The Librarian in Black
LibraryBytes
LibraryCrunch
The Shifted Librarian
Stephen's Lighthouse
Tame the Web

A complete online course, Five Weeks to a Social Library, "the first free, grassroots, completely online course devoted to teaching librarians about social software and how to use it in their libraries."

Remember to talk to your supervisor.

Before you start, talk with your supervisor. The information about completing project requirements is in Supervisor Tips.

Ohio Libraries

Warren-Trumbull County Public Library

Warren-Trumbull County Public Library

You are here: OLC > OREModule 1 >  Introduction
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Home | Purpose | Instructions | Contact OLC | Contact SLO
Print Choices | Supervisor Tips | Copyright-Credits | Site Index
ORE on the Web, Ohio Library Council, 2007.
See Copyright-Credits page for information regarding design, source of materials, and for use of the site. ORE on the Web is a web-based training project based on the ORE Manual (Ohio Library Council, 2000) plus photos, web links, stories, questions, and exercises, contributed by Ohio libraries. Developed and designed by Deana Noack, edited by Jennyann Noack.
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