COMPETENCY I

“AS ONE LAMP LIGHTS ANOTHER, NOR GROWS LESS,
SO NOBLENESS ENKINDLETH NOBLENESS.” –James Russell Lowell

I.
Use service concepts, principles and techniques that facilitate information access, relevance, and accuracy for individuals or groups of users.

       Reference services are the heart of the librarian profession. The American Library Association emphasis the need for strong reference services in both the Code of Ethics and in the Reference and User Services Association. It is important that a librarian is able to allow patrons access to the correct information they are seeking. The RUSA states: “ We value the unique contributions that librarians and library staff bring to the process of connecting users with the information they need.”
      I experienced an in depth look at reference services in Library 210, Reference and Information Services. After learning the proper way of conducting a reference interview, we were assigned the task of visiting our community library and asking the reference librarian a question (Library 210 Reference). The goal of the assignment was to view how the reference interview was conducted and to see if our question was answered with relevant and accurate information. I chose to visit the Castro Valley Library and to ask a question at the children’s reference desk. The librarian was very helpful, he repeated back the question I had asked and he proceeded to ask follow up questions as he searched the shelves for relevant books.
       In Library 260a, Programming and Services for Children, we learned how to conduct a reference interview with a child. Unlike a reference interview with an adult, Professor Peck explained how the reference interview with a child could be one of their first experiences expressing their needs to an authority figure. I learned it is important to treat the child with respect, to get to their level and to ask many follow up questions to insure accuracy. If the child leaves frustrated they may not choose to ask for help in the future. I also learned different ways of asking children questions through discussions with fellow classmates.
      Besides reference interviews there are many other ways that librarians can help patrons access information. Library websites provide links to reference websites that allow patrons to search from home. In Library 260a we had an exercise where we had to view many reference websites (Library 260a Online Resources). The assignment allowed me to view the websites from both a child’s point of view and a librarian’s point of view. Some of the websites catered to young children using large buttons, pictures and colorful icons. Other websites had content for children but they were made for adults to access and allow children to view with them. There are many reference sites available and I had the chance to explore only a few.
      Through my job as a library assistant at a high school library, I have had the opportunity to conduct many reference interviews with students and to provide reference services through the library website.



References
American Library Association (2011). Code of Ethics. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics.cfm
American Library Association (2011). Reference and User Services Association. Retrieved September 1, 2011 from http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/about/index.cfm
Library of Congress (2006). On These Walls. Retrieved July 20, 2011 from http://www.loc.gov/loc/walls/

Evidence:
Libr 260a: Online Resources