ILS 504   Reference and Information Resources and Services

Course Description:  General reference sources; their content, evaluation and use. The reference process and
the organization of reference and information services as they relate to different types
of libraries.

Course Objectives: 

• Understand the nature of reference and information services;
• Understand the organization of information services;
• Conduct reference interviews using face-to-face and electronically mediated communication modes;
• Describe the general characteristics of electronic and print information sources;
• Answer reference questions using electronic and printed sources; and
• Articulate an understanding of the long-term implications of technology for reference/information-seeking processes.

     
     ILS 504 met the ALA competency standards for reference and user services by teaching the  principles and techniques used by reference librarians in providing access to relevant and accurate information by library patrons.  Weekly assignments required extensive use of the ready reference materials at Hilton C. Buley Library.  More indepth reference questions required research at both academic and public libraries and a search of electronic and internet resources.  In each assignment, the selection of the most appropriate reference resource, following an evaluation of multiple reference resources, was required, meeting core competency 2B.  Two class assignments contributed most importantly in providing real life exposure to reference services. The first assignment required the design of two reference questions which would be researched using electonic reference sources.  The value of information retrieved was used to illustrate the potential and limitations of internet and online resources for reference services, supporting core competencies  5A and 5B.  The second assignment, a reference desk practicum at Hilton C. Buley Library, reinforced core competency 5C in that the student was able to observe methods used by reference librarians to conduct reference interviews and successfully service library patrons.

     The final project,  A Pathfinder on the American Revolutionary War, required an extensive search of school library resources in order to produce a list of available resources which students could use in fulfillment of their project requirements (5E, 5F).  The variety and reliability of resources met the learning preferences and abilities of this user group for a targeted purpose.  The pathfinder provided students with techniques to retrieve and evaluate the information from diverse sources in order to achieve information literacy. The project required the evaluation and selection of resources for diverse learning preferences within a grade level audience in alignment with core competency standard 2B.  Following completion of the project, I met with the school media specialist to discuss collection policies for school libraries including acquisition, maintenance and disposition which provided a foundation in core competencies 2A, 2C and 2D.