What would you like to get from your local reference librarian?

Question

Considering that the age of information is changing, and you no longer need a person to help you sort through card catalogs when you go to a library, what services do you expect or want from your reference librarian? Do you want to be able to e-mail someone and get fairly-instant responses about information-related questions? Do you want computer classes? When you're using public terminal computers, do you want someone who can help you with basic computer questions? Do you want your tax dollars to pay for a reference librarian at all? Is there anything else you'd like to see?

Answer 1

I think reference librarians will always be essential to a library. You'll always have people who need help figuring out the library whether they're technology-based questions or more traditional questions. A lot of people may feel overwhelmed and uncertain about things and need basic questions answered but feel stupid having to ask for help. Like they should be able to walk into any library and know where everything is. The most important thing is a willingness to help and general friendliness. They should be approachable. The thing that turns me off most in libraries is when I need help but all the librarians look too busy, too unconcerned, too unwilling to stop what they're doing and answer a quick question or two.

I think that there is a definite need for reference librarians to be technologically literate and present. Online reference helps can be extremely helpful. And its an important part of the job, in my opinion. But I wouldn't say that that is there only job. I think as long as there are actual libraries there will be a need for reference librarians.

People may think oh the internet eliminates the need for reference librarians and/or reference books. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. Librarians are there to remind people to use common sense when using the internet. They can help patrons sort through the chaos and filter out the massive amounts of junk. It's important to know where to search and how to search. How to think out the process. The librarian is there to help with that.

Answer 2

Fish and chips