Reference and User Services Quarterly – RUSQ, Volume 54, No. 1 is now available! (Fall 2014)

Welcome to RUSQ 54:1 (Fall 2014). As this issue goes live, I hope that RUSA members are enjoying a smooth start to the Fall. Whether you are in an academic, public, school, or special library, the Autumn offers new opportunities and possibilities.

I think that this issue of RUSQ offers a wide range of interesting reading. In some column highlights, RUSA President, Joseph Thompson starts off his first column by putting the RUSA strategic planning process in context; Howard Schwartz looks at RUSA standards in the virtual reference world; the Management column explores how graduate teaching assistants can improve library services and gain valuable experience; we look at the Maker Movement in Louisville Public Library in the “Accidental Technologist,” Michelle Woroniak challenges us to examine services to Indigenous Peoples in “Readers’ Advisory;” the Information Literacy column suggests ways to improve services to users with Autism Spectrum Disorders; and the “Alert Collector” examines Postmodernism.

Our feature articles are “Full-Time Reference with Part-Time Librarians: Dealing with Staffing Realities, Meeting User Needs” by Valery King and Sara Christensen-Lee and “Breaking the Ice: Facebook Friending and Reference Interactions” by Scott Stone

We also have the annual “Best Free Reference Websites” list from RUSA’s MARS Emerging Technologies section, and of course there are the great reviews that you come to expect from the journal.

I would also like to mention that we are seeking guest columnists with an interest in writing about issues and practice in Information Literacy & Instruction.  We consider submissions that address traditional perspectives, as well as those that explore novel or specialized aspects of the field.  Librarians, teachers, students, and professionals welcome to apply.  Contact column editor, Kelly Myer Polacek, kmpolacek@gmail.com, for more information or to discuss column ideas.

As always, please let me know what you would like to see in the journal and if you are interested in writing for RUSQ, please contact me at btrott@wrl.org.

Barry Trott,

Editor, RUSQ,

btrott@wrl.org

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