Ohio Reference
Excellence
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Module  Interview
Ohio Reference Excellence
The reference interview is the key to quality reference service.
The reference interview is a critical part of the reference
process. The interview determines what information library users need. Conducting a
successful reference interview is a skill that requires understanding and practice.
What You Will Learn in Module 2
How do you "do reference"? What are the steps of the
reference process? What is a reference interview? How do you get started when you don't
understand the question! How do you know when enough is enough? How can you find out what
patrons need if you can't read minds? Module 2 explains skills you need to answer the
basic question: what do patrons really want to know.
What's New? Virtual Reference
New links and suggestions for virtual reference have
been added to most module pages. For example, recommended virtual service behaviors are
included on the Reference Interview page. A new page has been
created to address some differences between remote reference and
face-to-face services. In-house or remote, recent guidelines
emphasize that standard practices of reference service such as reference interviewing
should prevail.
The different generations have
different styles of getting and using information. Articles about different
generations are summarized in
Digital Native or
Digital Immigrant. Ease
with technology is one outstanding difference. "Millennials, also known as
Generation Y, the Net Generation, the Digital Generation, the Echo Boom
generation were born during the period of about 1980 – 2001 and are in our
schools, universities, and recently have entered adulthood. And while only
the youngest of this Millennial generation, sometimes known as Generation
Z, have been surrounded by digital technology from infancy, the others
have grown up and have extensive experience with the web and other
technologies. These “digital natives” often pose a challenge to
librarians, many of whom are Boomers or Generation X and are “digital
immigrants.”
[In
Digital Native or
Digital Immigrant.UI Current LIS Clips: March 2006. Compiled and annotated by Marianne
Steadley.]
Reference interview
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Virtual or remote reference
New links and suggestions for virtual reference have
been added to most module pages. Recommended virtual service behaviors are
included on the Reference Interview page and a new page has been
created to address some differences between remote reference and
face-to-face services.
Before you start, talk with your supervisor. Information about
completing project requirements is in Supervisor Tips.
Kinsman Free Public Library
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