From the President

That Thing You Do

David A. Tyckoson, President

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Let’s do a little experiment. Before you read the rest of this article, go to your reference desk (or information desk, or help desk, or whatever term you use for your primary, in-person service point). Look around. What do you see? Are there people in the area? Are they staff or users? What are they doing? What library materials are they reading or using? What personal materials are they reading or using? Are they alone or in groups? Is it noisy or silent? »»

The Alert Collector

Core Collections in Genre Studies: Romance Fiction 101

Neal Wyatt, Editor
Georgine Olson, Kristin Ramsdell, Joyce Saricks, and Lynne Welch, Guest Columnists

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Building genre collections is a central concern of public library collection development efforts. Even for college and university libraries, where it is not a major focus, a solid core collection makes a welcome addition for students needing a break from their course load and supports a range of academic interests. Given the widespread popularity of genre books, understanding the basics of a given genre is a great skill for all types of librarians to have. »»

Accidental Technologist

Looking to Connect: Technical Challenges that Impede the Growth of Virtual Reference

M. Kathleen Kern, Editor
Sam Stormont, Guest Columnist

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Sam Stormont’s well-considered column made me think about current virtual reference issues in a different way. He brings together and unifies several threads: instant messaging, the goal of convenience, technological barriers, and collaboration. These themes were hot topics at the Collaborative Virtual Reference Symposium in July 2007. »»

Readers' Advisory

Back to the Future? A Response to Dilevko and Magowan

Barry Trott, Editor
Neil Hollands, Guest Columnist

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Readers’ advisory (RA) services have a long history in United States public libraries. Since the late nineteenth century, there always has been a component of public library services that has focused on connecting readers with books. As RA services have developed, contemporary practices have generally built on the foundations established by previous generations of readers’ advisors. »»

Guidelines

Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of Multilingual Collections and Services

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1.0 Introduction

Traditionally, the United States has been a country that attracts large numbers of immigrants from all over the globe. While some libraries have established collections and programs to serve the needs of library-users whose native language is not English, little has been done on a national scale to systematically address these needs. In addition, the multilingual needs of library patrons who are language students, foreign students or bilingual citizens have been under-served by traditional library services. »»

Guidelines

Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users

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Library services to Spanish-speaking users can be complex: nationality, regional differences, and culture provide myriad combinations within that community. As an example, there are significant linguistic and cultural differences reflected in the varieties of Spanish spoken by Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Spanish-speaking groups. To recognize and respond correctly to these differences is a major theme within these guidelines. »»

From Committees of RUSA

Outstanding Business Reference Sources: The 2007 Selection of Recent Titles

RUSA BRASS Business Reference Sources Committee

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A BRASS Business Reference Sources Committee working group, after year-long discussions, voted for three titles to be included in the outstanding category. Four additional titles were selected as noteworthy. In order to qualify for inclusion on the list, the works must have been published since May 2006, must be a source for frequently asked business reference questions, and must be suitable for mid-size to large academic and public libraries. »»

Feature

Assessing User Interactions at the Desk Nearest the Front Door

Pixey Anne Mosley

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Some library users come in the door knowing exactly where to go, with clearly defined and communicated needs. However, many more enter the library on an exploratory mission and often stop at the first service desk that catches their eye. In many libraries, this point of first contact is a security or general information desk, not a full-service reference desk. This opens the question, are users being served effectively and their expectations being met? »»

Feature

Determining Use of an Academic Library Reference Collection: Report of a Study

Jeannie Colson

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Studies indicate that a lean reference collection is the ideal, but how does a librarian determine what to pare? A small academic library did a five-year reshelving study to guide in collection management. Dots were applied to books as they were reshelved, with different colors for each year. Data indicate that, while many items were heavily used, many others were not used at all in five years. As a result of the study, reference staff are reconsidering the nature of the reference collection, beginning to develop a collection management policy, and determining the disposition of the good, but unused, items. »»

Feature

The Effects of Librarians’ Behavioral Performance on User Satisfaction in Chat Reference Services

Nahyun Kwon and Vicki L. Gregory

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The purpose of this study was to determine the effective behaviors of reference librarians during the chat reference interview, with particular emphasis given to whether the service users would feel more satisfied when librarians adopt the behaviors recommended in the revised “RUSA Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Services Providers.” The data analyzed for this study consisted of 422 chat reference transaction transcripts and corresponding user surveys obtained from a public library system that participated in a nationwide chat reference consortium. »»