Reference Services

DESCRIPTION

Reference services and resources establish that the library is a place for lifelong learners to go for information and support. In this course, you will learn to provide effective reference assistance to children and teens by building reference interview skills, resource knowledge, and research strategies. Watch the video lessons and complete the reflection activities to deepen your collaboration within the learning community around you!

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Learn strategies for working with reference requests and how to handle them in your daily schedule
• Learn ways to conduct a successful reference interview and how to handle communication challenges
• Learn how to make sensitive topics more accessible to students and staff while maintaining confidentiality
• Learn ways to teach students and staff how to use information responsibly
• Learn the basics of building and maintaining a reference collection in today's libraries
• Learn to promote and organize your print and electronic reference resources
• Learn several strategies that will help staff and students search more efficiently

COURSE OUTLINE

Each course lesson includes video content and at least one follow-up activity to help you apply and show evidence of your learning.

Introduction Video

Lesson 1: Responding to Reference Requests

Activity 1: Making Time for Reference Requests

Activity 2: Incorporating the Search Process

Lesson 2: The Reference Interview

Activity 1: Strategies for a Successful Reference Interview

Activity 2: Handling Communication Challenges

Lesson 3: Ethical Considerations for Reference Practice

Activity 1: Ethical Standards of Service

Activity 2: Patron Privacy

Lesson 4: Building and Maintaining a Reference Collection

Activity 1: Building a Reference Collection

Activity 2: The Reference Collection for Today's Libraries

Lesson 5: Print and Electronic Reference Sources

Activity 1: Promoting Reference Resources

Activity 2: Print vs. Electronic Reference Sources

Lesson 6: Search Engines and Strategies

Activity 1: Using Search Engines Effectively

Activity 2: Teaching Searching Skills

Closing Video

Course Certification Quiz

CREDIT HOURS

Earn three professional development clock hours for completing this course's videos, activities, and quiz. Consult with your supervising organization about applying these to your professional development requirements.

EVIDENCE OF LEARNING

To show evidence of learning for this course, complete and share responses to the following activities:

1. Making Time for Reference Requests
2. Incorporating the Search Process
3. Strategies for a Successful Reference Interview
4. Handling Communication Challenges
5. Ethical Standards of Service
6. Patron Privacy
7. Building a Reference Collection
8. The Reference Collection for Today's Libraries
9. Promoting Reference Resources
10. Print vs. Electronic Reference Sources
11. Using Search Engines Effectively
12. Teaching Searching Skills
13. Workshop Quiz Results / Certificate of Completion

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN TEAM

Rachel Grover, MSEd, is a middle-school librarian in Fairfax County, VA. She earned her master's through Old Dominion University. Grover serves on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of School Librarians. She has published more information about genrefying in "Notes from the Field: Genrefication FAQ" in School Library Connection's May 2017 issue. Follow her on Twitter @rgrov1013 and read more on her blog, https://groverscornerofthelibrary.wordpress.com/.

Rebecca J. Morris, MLIS, PhD, earned her master's degree and doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh and her undergraduate degree in elementary education at Pennsylvania State University. Rebecca teaches graduate courses in school librarianship and youth library services. Rebecca has published articles in journals including School Library Research, Knowledge Quest, School Libraries Worldwide, Teacher Librarian and the Journal of Research on Young Adults in Libraries. She is the author of School Libraries and Student Learning: A Guide for School Leaders (Harvard Education Publishing Group, 2015). Rebecca is a former elementary classroom teacher and middle school librarian.

Jane Cullina, MSEd, is the professional development manager for School Library Connection. A former children's librarian and humanities teacher, Jane earned her master's degree from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City and has taught in Boston, New York, Maine, California, and South Africa.

Emma Bailey is a project editor for Libraries Unlimited and manages production for the book division. In her 15 years with Libraries Unlimited, Emma has worked with authors and librarians on over 1,000 titles and created strong content knowledge to aid in the professional development curriculum for School Library Connection.

ABOUT LIBRARIES UNLIMITED

School Library Connection is a publication of Libraries Unlimited, a publisher in the field of academic, public, school, and special libraries since 1964. Libraries Unlimited's mission—to cultivate and maintain a supportive community where librarians, archivists, and information specialists can learn about and discuss leading-edge trends and acquire new skills through every phase of their careers—is supported by over 2,000 publications. Since 2008, Libraries Unlimited has been an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, an award-winning publisher of digital and print products in the realms of reference, contemporary thought, and professional development. With both a long-standing reputation for authoritative and trustworthy materials and a current prominence in delivering cutting-edge content in diverse and innovative forms, ABC-CLIO continues to be driven by pursuit of its core mission: to serve as source, catalyst, and support of lifelong learning.

CONTACT INFORMATION

To make inquiries about this workshop, please email WebinarSLC@abc-clio.com.