Are Reference Desks Dying Out?

Autor/in	Carlson, Scott
Titel	Are Reference Desks Dying Out?
Quelle	In: Chronicle of Higher Education, 53 (2007) 33, (1 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0009-5982
Schlagwörter	Reference Services; Academic Libraries; Information Technology; Change + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Literaturdienst; College; Colleges; University; Universities; Libary; Libraries; Hochschule; Fachhochschule; Universität; Bibliothek; Hochschulbibliothek; Informationstechnologie; Wandel
Abstract	This article examines how librarians are struggling to redefine, and in some cases eliminate, the venerable institution of reference desk services and it explores the new ways in which reference questions get answered at university libraries. These include fielding questions through e-mail, instant messaging, and other mobile technologies, making some librarians question whether reference desks are needed at all. Front-line librarians are discovering that what they thought would be reference work is turning out not to be reference work. Reference librarians have tried various methods to remain relevant, such as using "co-browsing" software to take control of the Web browser on patrons' home computers and guide them to various Web sites or resources. However, co-browsing was deemed cumbersome because it required patrons to download special software. One trend now lies in using social-networking tools to move beyond the reference desk in which reference librarians put themselves in blogs and social networks. In-person consultations are still deemed easier because an interaction that would take half an hour online takes five minutes in person through a technique reference librarians term the "reference interview." Librarians have diverging visions about offering reference services face to face versus virtual, and desk versus no desk. This article provides examples showing varying success with each. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Chronicle of Higher Education. 1255 23rd Street NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037. Tel: 800-728-2803; e-mail: circulation@chronicle.com; Web site: http://chronicle.com/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10