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RUSA Preconference. Register Now!

Reference Interview
Reference Interview is a comprehensive course focusing on the methods of evaluating reference service, behavioral aspects of reference service, and the different types of questions that can be used to help patrons identify what they need.  You will learn why people do not ask for what they really want, and explore the psychological barriers to asking for help. You will also discover how to work with your users so that they are willing to come back again with future questions.  This preconference covers techniques for in-person, telephone, and chat/IM reference services, and will be valuable for staff at any level of experience.

Reference Interview is tailored for support staff, library technicians, newly hired reference librarians and those librarians who want to brush up on their interview skills.

Friday, June 27, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Speakers: Dave Tyckoson, Associate Dean at California State University, Fresno
Nicolette Sosulski, Business Librarian, Portage District Library
Register here!

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Registration open for “Genealogy Resources for Librarians” Midwinter institute

Register now for “Genealogy Resources for Librarians” and guarantee your seat at this exciting institute hosted by the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) History Section.

This all-day institute addresses issues of importance to library staff and administration when serving or partnering with patrons, volunteers, scholars, or educators interested in genealogy research. Nationally known specialists will discuss everything from superb free resources to future directions at NARA to webinar outreach, new online offerings, webinar instruction, government documents, Quaker resources, and making the financial case for genealogical librarianship. Luncheon is included and sponsored by ProQuest.

 Program includes:

 9AM Panel– Getting More Than You Pay For: Free Access to Genealogical Resources: panelists Kim Harrison, Ancestry.com; Michael Hall, FamilySearch; Sandra M. Hewlett, CGSM 
10AM Speaker - Meg Phillips, Liaison Director, NARA, and Jefferson M. Moak, Archivist, National Archives at Philadelphia, Future Directions for the National Archives and Records Administration
11 AM Panel – Reaching Reference Librarians Through Genealogical Webinars
panelists Kimberly Powell, V.P., Association of Professional Genealogists; Amber Case, University of Washington; Cherie’ Weible, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Noon Lunch – ProQuest program
1:30 PM Panel – Quaker Collections
panelists Ann Upton, Haverford; Tom Hamm, Earlham; Gwen Gosney Erickson Guilford College
2:30 PM Speaker – Connie Reik, Tufts, Genealogical Use of Government Publications
3:30 PM Speaker – Making the Financial Case for Genealogical Librarianship
 Curt Witcher, Allen County Public Library

The History Section is home to ALA’s genealogy experts, and the workshops and programs they produce provide primary resource information and tips. Genealogy reference is a valuable part of any library’s user services, and this event will provide an excellent opportunity to enhance those services, as well as the skills of the library’s reference staff.

The workshop will be held 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. Register now via the ALA Midwinter Meeting website (event code RUS1). You can register for Midwinter plus this institute, add this institute to your Midwinter registration, or sign up for just the institute by selecting “Institutes and Ticketed Events Only” as your meeting registration type.

Advanced registration prices for this event start at $60 for RUSA members, and lunch is included in the registration fee. The advanced registration rate will be available until January 15, and prices will increase after that date. Online registration in advance of the event is strongly encouraged. More information about the Midwinter Meeting is available at http://alamw14.ala.org/.

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Call for nominations: BRASS Emerald Research Grant Award

Are you a librarian in need of funding for a business research project?

The Emerald Research Grant Award, sponsored by Emerald Group Publishing Limited offers one award of $2,500 and a citation to an individual or team seeking support to conduct research in business librarianship. The awards will be presented at the RUSA Awards Ceremony at the 2014 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Recipients will be required to attend the RUSA Awards Ceremony.

Candidates must submit a detailed proposal outlining their proposed research project; methodology, scope and timetable; how this project fits into the existing literature; and projected outcomes, including a statement outlining how this research will benefit the library profession. Proposals will be reviewed for thoroughness; potential to positively impact the library profession; and potential to provide a useful addition to the existing library literature. Proposals will be accepted from both individual researchers and those working collaboratively. At least one member of a collaborative team must be a member of ALA.

The deadline for proposals is December 15, 2013.

Proposals can be sent to elizabeth.stephan@wwu.edu

Good luck!

Elizabeth Stephan
Coordinator of Instruction/Assistant Professor
Librarian to the College of Business & Economics
Western Washington University

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Confessions of a reference librarian

Ever wonder exactly what kind of work members of RUSA do, or maybe which courses they would recommend for students looking for a career in reference or user services? On October 28, RUSA will begin to run a series of week-long interviews with a different member each week.

Hosted on ALA Connect at the IAmRUSA Community – http://connect.ala.org/node/211629 ALA members will be given the opportunity to ask questions of participating RUSA members about their professional careers, their passions, and anything else that may come up involving librarianship.

Be sure to join in the community and if you are interested in participating as an interviewee, contact Kirk MacLeod at kgmcleod@ualberta.ca or Sarah Hammill at hammills@fiu.edu for more information.