Page 40 - DLIS105_REFERENCE_SOURCES_AND_SERVICES

Unit 3: Reference Services

Notes

Electronic information technology, like clay tablets or papyrus or vellum or paper or
microfilm, is a medium and a tool that enables the organization and dissemination of
information.

Unlike these static media, however, today’s and tomorrow’s information technologies allow for
something approaching simultaneity in the interconnected processes of obtaining access, selecting,
and organizing information. Reference Librarians also engage in the process of interpreting
information, something that no information technology demands of users and one that they can, if
they wish, ignore.
Technology is simply a tool. It is a conduct for the delivery of information from provider to users.
Although the physics, engineering, and programming that lie beneath the surface of information
technologies and systems grows ever more complex and sophisticated, information technology tools
grow more manageable and malleable for those who know little about the subsurface schemes that
enable that malleability. Reference Librarians have a role in influencing the design and functionality
of information systems. They are one of the natural designers of new tools for information
organization, access, retrieval, and distribution: these are the functions they do best. They need to
build on their successes and strengthen their roles in this arena. Signs of success to date include
developments such as Serials Solutions, electronic reference software, that is, more software designed
to meet the needs of the service and library users. Just as libraries have done with OPAC Web
interfaces, they need to identify necessary tools and adapt them to their needs, taking the lead
rather then being led by technologies that don’t serve those needs.

If the point of reference service is to help people find the information resources
they want or need, then the technological environment should help to dictate
what a service should look like.

Write short notes on the past evolving tools and present evolving tools in library.

3.3 The Future of Reference Service

Does reference service have a future? Of course it does and its future is one with the future of the
library and the future of each depends upon the success of the other. The community has a voracious
appetite for information and information in the aggregate is inherently confusing because it does
not organize itself for ease of use. So, no matter how well any library service is organized, the
community will continue to need libraries and reference service to make the universe of information
relevant. Reference librarians will continue to select, organize, provide access, and interpret relevant
information as their role will continue to evolve, some features will remain constant, while others
will change.
The Constants

(a) The library will be measured by its service to the community.

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