Cooperative Reference: Social Interaction in the Workplace

Expert advice for more effective teamwork in the library! Cooperative Reference: Social Interaction in the Workplace addresses the need for reference librarians to work together to keep the system running smoothly. This book explores the various means of developing social professionalism, collaborating on projects, and combining forces with other libraries to remain on the cutting edge of information services in this new century. Using this guide, you will learn from the first-hand experiences of on-the-job reference librarians. This book will give youas a reference librarian, administrator, library science student, or educatorideas to support cooperative efforts in the library and beyond. This book will show you how to better interact with: other reference librarians face-to-face users online users library and academia faculty other libraries Cooperative Reference reveals how patrons perceive you from the other side of the desk. This book shows that first impressionshow you dress, your attitude, how you interact with other workers, and how you address the patron’s questionsdirectly affect the patron’s visit and influence his or her decisions about using your library in the future. The social skills in this volume can also directly benefit your library as library budgets can no longer keep up with the skyrocketing costs of library materials. To continue viability, many libraries must be willing to work together to share costs and experience. Other topics in Cooperative Reference include: tag-team referencinga dynamic, synergistic environment at the reference desk teaching librarians about interpersonal skillshow to establish professional, collegial relationships with one another librarians teaming up to teach a class together cooperative reference desk schedulinghow to create and implement tailored desk hours collection development between librarians for different departments working together to create online services a consolidation of reference services by two separate libraries Using several case examples, this well-referenced book takes an innovative look at the ever-increasing necessity for librarians to work together for the good of the patrons, the workers, and the library structure. Cooperative Reference will improve the reference services of public and academic libraries both large and small.

Table of Contents:
Introduction SERVING AT THE REFERENCE DESK User Perspectives on Staff Cooperation During the Reference Transaction A Product of Social Interaction: Tag-Team Reference and Workplace Relationships Reference Service in the Context of Library Culture and Collegiality: Tools for Keeping Librarians on the Same (Fast Flipping) Pages The Reference Interview as Partnership: An Examination of Librarian, Library User, and Social Interaction WORKING WITHIN THE LIBRARY: INTANGIBLES Interpersonal Skills in the Reference Workplace Building a Learning Culture for the Common Good WORKING WITHIN THE LIBRARY: PRACTICALITIES Crossing Three Bridges: Linking Librarianship and Teaching Across the P-16 Educational Continuum Cooperative Reference Desk Scheduling and Its Effects on Professional Collegiality Cooperation in a Multi-Faceted Reference Department: Blending Resources, Personnel, and Services of Reference, Instruction, Interlibrary Loan, and Government Documents Why Social Interaction and Good Communication in Academic Libraries Matters Cooperative Reference and Collection Development: The Science and Technology Group at the University of Tennessee Libraries THE VIRTUAL LIBRARY: OUTREACH TO USERS Improving Reference Services Through a Library Website: Strategies for Collaborative Change The Role of Cooperation in Creating a Library Online Tutorial E-Mail Reference: Improving Service by Working Cooperatively Collaboration: The Key to Unlocking the Dilemma of Distance Reference Services Reference Beyond the Walls of the Library: Interacting with Faculty and Students in the 21st Century COOPERATING WITH FACULTY Collaborate or Die! Collection Development in Today’s Academic Library If They Build It Will They Come? Cooperation and Collaboration to Create a Customized Library COOPERATING WITH OTHER LIBRARIES A National Laboratory and University Branch Campus Library Partnership: Shared Benefits and Challenges from Combined Reference Services When the Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Development of Cooperative Service and Resource Sharing in Libraries: 1876-2002 Index Reference Notes Included