Dear RUSA Members and RUSQ Subscribers,
Welcome to the first issue of Reference and User Services Quarterly, Volume 52.
As I take over as editor, I would like to once more thank Diane Zabel for six outstanding years at the helm of the journal. Her work, and the work of the RUSQ Board, column editors, and authors has set the bar high, and I look forward to the challenge.
In addition to the feature articles and continuing columns, this issue introduces a new column that I am excited about: “Taking Issues“. Â This column focuses on dialog between librarians on important topics in reference librarianship.
I hope to hear from RUSQ readers about how we can make the journal valuable to your work. Please feel free to contact me with ideas and comments at btrott@wrl.org.
Barry Trott
Editor, RUSQ
Read the new issue now.
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Below are some highlights of this quarter’s valuable content.
Columns
From the Editor: A Tough Act to Follow   Barry Trott
From the President of RUSA: Carnegie Awards: A New and Important Addition to the Book Scene   Mary Pagliero Popp
Taking Issues: Welcome to “Taking Issues”   Karen Antell and Molly Strothmann
Accidental Technologist: Librarians and Code Year   Eric Phetteplace with Andromeda Yelton, Guest Columnist
Readers’ Advisory: You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello   Laurel Tarulli with Barry Trott, Guest Columnist
The Alert Collector: Polacek Sacred Books in English Translation   Kelly Myer with Wayne Bivens-Tatum, Guest Columnist
Information Literacy and Instruction: What They Didn’t Tell Me (or what I didn’t hear) in Library School: Perspectives from New Library Instruction Professionals   Lisa O’Connor with Julie Vanhoose, Bridget Farrell and Emily Rae Aldridge, Guest Columnists
Management: One Hundred and Eighty Years of Great Statistical Collections from the U.S. Census Bureau: A Retrospective   Marianne Ryan with Mark Anderson, Guest Columnist
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Features
Self-Service Holds in Libraries: Is Patron Privacy Being Sacrificed for Patron Convenience? Ruth S. Stevens, Patricia Bravender, and Caralee Witteveen-Lane
Professional Preparation for “Text a Librarianâ€. What Are the Requisite Competencies? Lili Luo
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Departments
From the Committees of RUSA
•            Best Free Reference Websites MARS: Emerging Technologies in Reference Section
•            RUSA Guidelines for Establishing Local History Collections Local History Committee of the History Section
Sources
•            Professional Materials Karen Antell, Editor
•            Reference Books Tammy J. Eschedor Voelker, Editor
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Interested in submitting an article or contributing to RUSQ? Â Guidelines and submission instructions can be found here.
Get tech support: Need to activate your subscription to RUSQ? Â Access information is at the RUSA website. Contact Metapress directly at support@metapress.com for any technical hiccups or questions about your subscription.
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