Reference Services Planning in the 90s

Here is a comprehensive look at planning for reference services in the 1990s. Full of practical as well as theoretical information, Reference Services Planning in the 90s gives readers a valuable overview of the "big picture" in current reference service. While some of the issues that faced librarians ten years ago are no longer significant, others remain--and an entirely new set of topics has arisen which needs to be addressed in light of recent developments in the field. Readers will find this book an important source of guidance and help as they negotiate their way through the current decade of reference services and beyond. Reference Services Planning in the 90s focuses on the issues that are important in reference work today. Chapters are practitioner-oriented and informational in nature. Some contain extensive bibliographies for future research. Among the many topics discussed are: reference service to rural library users and off-campus students and faculty the high cost of reference and the need for reassessment of service and delivery planning for online reference NREN and reference service education for reference/information service evaluation of reference service Library educators, library administrators of medium to large institutions, and reference librarians at all levels will find of wealth of practical knowledge in Reference Services Planning in the 90s. Individuals planning for reference service in academic and larger public libraries will find useful information in the areas of automation, education and staff development, evaluation, and service to specific populations. The book also serves as a helpful tool for those teaching reference services.

Table of Contents:
Contents Introduction Part I: Overview Conflicts in Value Systems Part II: Reference Services: What, For Whom, and How Much? Reference Librarians in the Information Age: Learning From the Past to Control the Future Reference service in Rural Public Libraries: Issues and Trends Reference Services for Off-Campus Students and Faculty Cooperative Reference Service The High Cost of Reference: The Need to Reassess Services and Service Delivery Part III: The Reference Unit Roles of the Head of Reference: From the 1990s to the 21st Century Plan for Service: Professional and Non-Professional Reference Staff Part IV: The Computer Connection Planning Online Reference Services for the 90s The Challenge of CD-ROMs for Libraries The Emerging National Information Infrastructure and Reference Services Part V: Education Education for Reference/Information Service: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Basic Reference Courses Competence and the New Paradigm: Continuing Education of the Reference Staff Improving Reference: Preliminary Thoughts on a Return to the Classroom Part VI: Evaluation Evaluating Reference Services and Reference Personnel: Questions and Answers From the Literature Reference Notes Included Index