RBB Annual Program: Rethinking the Reference Collection
Posted by: Jessica Moyer
This morning in the McCormick Center RBB hosted a lively and informative program, “Rethinking the Reference Collection,” in a packed room in the new West wing of the convention center. Dave Tyckoson, head of reference services from Fresno State spoke from the academic libraries viewpoint; Barbara Bibel, reference librarian from Oakland Public Library spoke from the public libraries viewpoint; and Sara Johns, library media specialist from Lake Placid Middle/High School spoke from the school libraries viewpoint. RBB Chair Sue Polanka from Wright State moderated the panel.
Circulating reference materials was mentioned by all the panelists and several of the audience members. Promotion and marketing and training of the electronic materials that we have purchased was also considered essential. One area in which the panelists differed was on print indexes – many academic libraries are still keeping them because of the need to support graduate students and faculty needing to conduct research in the years not included in the databases (i.e. pre-1980). Saving the time of the user by providing materials and resources that best meet user needs was another theme, especially in terms of student assignments in all types of libraries.
Stay tuned for additional posts and followup comments from the guest speakers and moderator.
