Page 39 - DLIS006_INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES

Information Sources and Services

Notes
maintenance of equipment coordinated with the Administrative Office;
maintenance of user documentation for digital resources;
supervision and evaluation of staff performance and proficiency levels; and
maintenance of supplies used in providing such services.
Staff Training
The Farmington Community Library views the ability to search print and digital reference
sources as a basic service skill for all full time and part time employees. All staff is
required to master basic reference competencies which are detailed in the Adult Department
Procedures. Professionals are required to master all levels of reference competencies.
Training will be conducted in house on a time frame determined by the Branch Heads or
Departments Heads. However, the Library will provide the opportunity and training to
any staff wishing to learn a higher level competency. The Library will also identify
appropriate vendor workshops and send staff members. In addition, the Library will
provide current support documentation and training manuals/materials to assist staff
with their training and use of reference materials.
Question:
Read the case carefully and write down the summary of your understanding.

Source: http://www.farmlib.org/pdfs/ReferenceService.pdf
2.5 Summary

Reference work is the actual assistance given to the users in need for information.
It enables librarians and users to understand where the recorded information exists and
helps in searching the needed information.
Libraries have always been engaged in providing services to their users.

Reference and information services have always been the main component of library
services.

In this new age, information becomes a resource as well as a commodity, and its handling
and processing also becomes a main activity. In this information age, or post-industrial
society, the demands will be focused on the knowledge of what to gather, how to gather,
process and utilize it.

The focal point of Reference Service is answering questions posed by the library user.
The reference service in the library takes care of the function of making available the
information whereas the library activity of acquiring, organizing, and preserving the
reference materials is something which the users are not aware of, but is of maximum
relevance to them.
There are broadly two types or reference services, namely, Ready Reference Services and
Long Range Reference Services.

There are many general differences between Ready reference and long range reference
services.

There are Reference Service in different types of libraries

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