Page 34 - DLIS006_INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES

Unit 2: Reference Services

Self Assessment Notes

Fill in the blanks:
3. In this new age, ………………………. becomes a resource as well as a commodity, and its
handling and processing also becomes a main activity.

4. All these requirements/needs of the users can be met by having access to proper and up-
to-date …………………………………

2.3 Types of Reference Service

There are broadly two types of reference services
1. Ready Reference Services
2. Long Range Reference Services

Ready reference service and long range reference service are two different aspects of reference
service.

2.3.1 Ready Reference Service

According to Ranganathan, “Ready reference service is reference service finished in a very short
time in a moment if possible,” Thus the concept of ready reference service is based on duration
of time. In case of ready reference service, the reference staff is able to answer the inquiry in a
very short duration of time, may be at times immediately.

Example: Some of the examples of this type are:
What is Population of Goa?
How many states and union territories does India have?

Who is the Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry in 2002?
One of the services to be performed by a reference section is to train the inquirers in fact finding.
This kind of training should be given special consideration in providing orientation to new
users.

!
Caution The training should be given in a form, readily acceptable to the users.

Assimilation is to be considered an important aspect of ready reference service. It is the process
of absorption of information. Experience on the job is extremely helpful. Assimilation helps us
to learn from our experience. At the time of preparation or providing reference service, a
reference librarian should try to think of as to who can possibly benefit from the information
being dealt at that time. Somebody might have asked for that piece of information earlier.
It could be brought to his notice. A reference librarian should share his experiences about public
catalogue with cataloguing section. One can go on multiplying situations where assimilation of
information on the part of a reference librarian can be a great help in improving library tools,
collection and services.

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