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Logan Library
Approved: 1992
To set standards and guidelines for reference services reflecting a suggested level of performance. To explain which services and resources are offered and the extent to which they are provided. To give purpose and direction to future reference service.
To provide accurate, prompt and courteous assistance to the public in the use of the library's reference and regular collections. To provide a reference collection and services adequate to meet the general information, basic research, recreational and instructional needs of the public.
The main reference functions provided to the patrons are guidance, direction, and instruction.
The reference librarian selects a variety of reference materials, maintains a balanced collection of standard and popular works and makes decisions as to eventual disposition of these materials. The collection includes basic reference tools such as general encyclopedias, special encyclopedias and dictionaries, almanacs, biographical dictionaries, directories and indexes, foreign language dictionaries, atlases and gazetteers, etc. and United States Government Documents and local history materials.
The reference collection is a non-circulating collection.
Information contacts with users, whether reference or directional, are to be taken seriously and treated with utmost respect and confidentiality. Under no circumstances should there be any discussion of an individual or a group of users, or of any transactions between user and reference librarian, outside of a professional context. (See Privacy Policy).
Reference librarians select and qualify books of all types. The reading level of a source may be clarified and knowledge of sources on a myriad of subjects can be provided. Reference librarians direct patrons to appropriate publications and assist in their use, such as reviews, selected lists, buying guides and other means of evaluation.
Information within books etc. may be read and interpreted by the public but the professional librarians do not interpret or give opinions of the findings. The librarians may indicate the best sources on a given subject.
Special libraries, such as the medical library, the law library or the genealogy library, may be referred to as sources of specific information. These libraries are available to the public and telephone numbers and addresses for them may be obtained from the reference staff.
Reference Statistics and Requests
Reference staff is responsible for recording the number of questions received at the reference desk. Unfulfilled requests and needs will also be reported on the form. Telephone statistics will also be recorded.
A directional transaction is defined as an information contact that facilitates the use of the library and does not involve the knowledge, sue, recommendations, or instruction in the use of any information sources other than those which describe the library.
A reference transaction is defined as an information contact that involves the knowledge, use, recommendation, or instruction in the use of information sources by the reference librarians.
Library Use Instruction
The reference staff assists patrons in the use of the library and teaches research methodology when appropriate. Small groups may be given tours of the library. They are shown the different areas of the library and they may be introduced to library personnel. Librarians take the opportunity to familiarize library patrons with library-usage concepts to help them feel comfortable when visiting the library.
Citations
The reference staff provides bibliographic information verified with standard tools, such as Books in Print, etc. When information is given on any subject, including the most common knowledge, the patron is provided with the reference source for the data.
Library Etiquette
A cheerful and courteous manner is employed in dispensing information and reference service. The reference staff is attentive and respectful. The patrons are given the benefit of the doubt, and credit for good intentions and honesty.
The reference staff provide services to patrons without bias and without imposing value judgements as to the importance of their questions or needs.
Fax
Library personnel answer fax requests within twenty-four hours, except on holidays and weekends. In order to comply with copyright law, these requests must be on the appropriate request form and signed by the person wanting the material.
The fax machine is not for public use.
Photo-Duplication
Coin-operated copy machines are available for patron use. Assistance in operating the copy machines is provided when necessary.
School Questions
The reference staff does not do in depth research for school assignments. They instruct students in the use of library materials so that they will become familiar with the library and learn to use library skills in doing schoolwork.
Some school assignments deplete the circulating collection. Materials on required subjects are collected in the reference section when demand warrants.
Telephone Reference
Telephone reference is a service of the library. The reference staff verifies answers, cites sources that are used and gives the date of the source when relevant. The reference staff responds to telephone requests as received in turn. The questions are answered with quick, specific answers. For questions that take longer to find the answer, the reference staff calls the patron back within twenty-four hours.
Long passages are not read over the telephone. A photocopy of lengthy material may be mailed to the patron or the patron may come to the library to pick it up.
Patrons are encouraged to come to the library to do their own research.
Contest questions are answered for a person over the phone only if the reference librarian can find the answer immediately.
Reading Guidance
The reference staff provides reading guidance for the public. The library staff prepares bibliographies for materials on many subjects found in the library. Bibliographies are furnished for children, young adults and adults.
Business
A reference request from a business is treated the same as a reference request from an individual.
A collection of current annual reports and other information made available to the library from local businesses is kept on file for the public.
Libraries and Media Centers
The Logan Library cooperates with school media centers and other libraries. The library does not charge for this service except as prescribed in the Interlibrary Loan Policy.
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary loan services are available to help patrons obtain materials not found in the library. (See ILL Policy 2.04).
The reference staff assists patrons in finding bibliographic verification of items not owned by the library. The patrons are assisted in filling out the forms to obtain materials through interlibrary loan when necessary.
The reference staff refers patrons to other agencies and suppliers of information when appropriate.
On-line Services
On-line search services are available to help patrons identify and obtain materials not found in the library. (See On-line Services Guidelines ). All on-line searches are done by qualified library staff.
The reference collection is comprised of sources for factual and statistical information.
The collection shall include reference tools recommended for public libraries in the following areas: general reference, the humanities, the social sciences, history and the pure and applied sciences.
Selection in most subject areas is made with the non-specialist in mind. Both current and retrospective coverage will be provided. The reference collection provides selective coverage of subjects of local interest and information on local politics, statistics, and organizations.
Any material under consideration for acquisition for the reference collection will first be evaluated in each of the following areas: Physical format, bibliographic form, usefulness, quality of work, demand, currency of the topic, date of the publication, opinions expressed in professional reviews, the price on the material and local interest.
Materials acquired will include indexes, handbooks, guides, dictionaries, directories, bibliographies, almanacs, encyclopedias, atlases, yearbooks and manuals.
The same criteria apply to both acquisition and weeding. The physical condition of the material, age of the material, subject matter, datedness, and demand will be used as criteria for keeping the material in the reference collection.
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