Registration closes Thursday, July 15, 2010 for Reference Interview online course

Just a quick reminder that registration for RUSA’s online course “The Reference Interview” closes next Thursday!

Sign up now using the online form, or download the printed registration form for faxing.

Here’s the scoop:

THE REFERENCE INTERVIEW offered by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

Course dates: July 19 – August 27, 2010

What is covered: Basic reference interview topics  such as cultivating an approachable reference environment, successful questioning and listening techniques and appropriate follow-up methods. The skills presented will help all levels and types of user services staff in their day-to-day engagement with library patrons.

Who should take this class: This course is appropriate for all types of librarians who would like to acquire basic reference skills, or experienced librarians who need a refresher course.

Cost: Starts at $130 for RUSA members. Student members of ALA pay $100.

We do offer discounts for group registrations! A group means two or more librarians from the same library (or library system) enrolled in the same class at the same time.

Download the group registration form here: http://rusa.ala.org/media/2010rusacegroupreg.pdf

Don’t forget! Registration for our  Business Reference courses is also still open.

Business Reference 101 August 16–September 17, 2010

Dates for the following courses will be announced soon:

Genealogy 101 – Fall 2010

Readers’ Advisory 101 – Fall 2010

Sign up now using the online form, or download the printed registration form for faxing.

Redefining Reference

Did you know that the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has a definition of reference?  This definition considers the broader range of activities that constitute reference services in today’s libraries.  Susan J. Beck, RUSA Past-President and a former Chair of the Reference Services Section (RSS) of RUSA, explains, “RUSA, the foremost organization of reference and information professionals in the world, has redefined reference to reflect the activities of the twenty-first century reference librarian to serve the needs of a new generation of information seekers.”

The definition of reference is used as the basis for measuring and assessing reference services in libraries. While previous definitions focused on mediated transactions conducted at the reference desk, the definition now includes the work that supports unmediated transactions, which constitutes much of what is done by reference librarians on a daily basis. This definition also allows for the creation of new standards used in statistics-gathering to better capture the work of today’s reference librarians.

Beck expressed the importance of standardizing the definition: “This new definition represents the core work of our profession. We encourage all professional library organizations that measure and evaluate reference transactions to adopt this definition as the standard definition of reference work. The standard definition will foster the comparison of data across institutions and within the reference profession.”

The most recent version of the definition was developed and presented to the RUSA board by members of the Reference Services Section (RSS) of RUSA:

Reference Transactions are information consultations in which
library staff recommend, interpret, evaluate, and/or use information resources
to help others to meet particular information needs. Reference transactions do
not include formal instruction or exchanges that provide assistance with
locations, schedules, equipment, supplies, or policy statements.

Reference Work includes reference transactions and other
activities that involve the creation, management, and assessment of information
or research resources, tools, and services.

Definition of terms within Reference Work:

  • Creation and management of information resources includes the development and maintenance of research collections, research guides, catalogs, databases, web sites, search engines, etc., that patrons can use independently, in-house or remotely, to satisfy their information needs.
  • Assessment activities include the measurement and evaluation of reference work, resources, and services.

(The most recent version was adopted at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, PA on January 14, 2008).

More information about RUSA, its Sections and reference guidelines may be found here:

RUSA Web site:

http://www.ala.org/rusa

RUSA Definitions of Reference:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/definitionsreference.cfm

RUSA Guidelines:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/index.cfm

ALA Emerging Leaders Program

ALA is now accepting applications for the 2011 class of Emerging Leaders. Applications can be found here.

RUSA will sponsor one emerging leader with a travel award of $1000. Applicants can indicate on the application which groups they want to consider them for sponsorship. A list of sponsoring units is included as part of the online application. Applicants can also check with their state association and/or state chapter to find out if they are participating and how to apply for their sponsorship.

The selection committee seeks diversity based on geography, gender, ethnicity and type of library. Particular attention is given to candidates’ personal statements as well as those of their references. No more than one person from any institution can be selected for participation in the program. Preference will be given to those who do not have experience working on ALA committees, task forces, etc.and to those who meet the following criteria: Be under 35 years of age or be a new library professional of any age with fewer than 5 years of experience working at a professional or paraprofessional level in a library; be able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in between the two conferences; be prepared to commit to serve on an ALA, Division, Chapter, or Round Table committee, taskforce or workgroup, or your state or local library organization upon completion of program, and be an ALA member or join upon selection if not already a member. More information about the program may be found here.

For the Love of Reference: 2010 RUSA President’s Program

ALA Annual Conference, Washington D.C.
Monday, June 28, 2010
1:30 – 3:30 PM
Washington Convention Center, 202A

Reference and readers’ advisory work are among the most engaging specialties in librarianship. They inspire great devotion among their practitioners and fans.  Beyond those practitioners, researchers who dig for information as part of their job find many of the same satisfactions as reference librarians.

At this year’s RUSA President’s Program, explore the twin appeals of information discovery and serving users that inspire a love of reference and readers’ advisory work. Three dynamic speakers will lead the discussion:

  • Nancy Pearl, author of many books on the pleasures of reading and star of her own television show, Book Lust with Nancy Pearl, will speak about the “Gifts our Patrons Give Us.”
  • New York Times best-selling thriller author Joseph Finder will share his experiences as an information digger in researching for his work, including award winners Killer Instinct and Company Man.
  • Peter Bromberg, Assistant Director for South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC), will talk about the future of reference and why we’ll still love it.

A short video with clips of interviews of librarians discussing their love of reference and a running backchannel of twitter commentary will complement the presentations. We’re also experimenting with a polling tool. Bring your cell phones, iPads, Droids, whatever!

Anyone with an interest in reference will enjoy the panel. We hope to see you there!

To register for Annual Conference, see

http://ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/upcoming/annual/registration/index.cfm.