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Unit 3: Reference Librarian

Facilitating and promoting reading clubs. Notes
Developing programs for library users of all ages and backgrounds.
Managing access to electronic information resources.

Building collections to respond to changing community needs or demands.
Creating pathfinders.
Writing grants to gain funding for expanded program or collections.
Digitizing collections for online access.

Answering incoming reference questions via telephone, postal mail, email, fax, and chat.
Making and enforcing computer appointments on the public access Internet computers.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
3. Reference librarians play a minor role in the daily operations of a library.
4. Experienced librarians may take administrative positions such as library or information
centre director.

3.3 Essential Skills of a Reference Librarian

Librarians select, develop, organize and maintain library collections and provide advisory
services for users. They are employed in libraries or in a department within a library.
The most important essential skills for librarians are:
A. Reading Text
read notes from co-workers.
read summaries of recently published titles in suppliers’ catalogues and professional
journals to become familiar with the content of new releases they might order for their
libraries’ collections.

read e-mail from co-workers and colleagues, and memos from managers.
read library users’ e-mail and chat room entries.
read letters from publishers informing them of new authors and book titles.
read monthly, quarterly and annual reports which summarize the operations of their
libraries.
read policies, procedures and technical manuals.
read local and national newspapers.
read collective agreements and copyright regulations.
read professional and academic journals.

read a variety of books, reports and other publications critically and purposefully.
B. Document Use
scan labels, catalogue cards, book spines, periodical covers and copyright notices for
publication dates, titles, authors’ names, classification codes and other identification data.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 41