To compete today, librarians need to not only provide old services in new ways but also to provide new services. Repositioning Reference: New Methods and New Services for a New Age re-imagines reference services in libraries and information organizations and the role of reference librarians, taking into account rapid developments in technology and information-specific services in non-library sectors. It traces the history of technology adoption for reference services, describes competitive pressures facing reference services, identifies untapped opportunities for reference services and librarians, details innovative and creative solutions for energizing the profession and engaging library user communities, and prescribes means to evaluating technologies for reference services. This book: * Includes current and unique examples of innovative reference services to serve as inspiration and launching points for readers. * Offers contemporary management theory and practice from outside of the field of LIS to offer readers a guide for initiating, leading, and managing change in their organizations. * Outlines the processes of environmental scanning and SWOT analysis, which are important practices for keeping abreast of changes in the field and positioning an organization to make the most of their opportunities and to minimize threats. Repositioning Reference may be used as a textbook by LIS educators whose courses and learning experiences prepare aspiring librarians to lead the reference revolution and by practicing librarians in diverse settings who want to be change agents.

To compete today, librarians need to not only provide old services in new ways but also to provide new services. Repositioning Reference: New Methods and New Services for a New Age re-imagines reference services in libraries and information organizations and the role of reference librarians, taking into account rapid developments in technology and information-specific services in non-library sectors. It traces the history of technology adoption for reference services, describes competitive pressures facing reference services, identifies untapped opportunities for reference services and librarians, details innovative and creative solutions for energizing the profession and engaging library user communities, and prescribes means to evaluating technologies for reference services. This book: * Includes current and unique examples of innovative reference services to serve as inspiration and launching points for readers. * Offers contemporary management theory and practice from outside of the field of LIS to offer readers a guide for initiating, leading, and managing change in their organizations. * Outlines the processes of environmental scanning and SWOT analysis, which are important practices for keeping abreast of changes in the field and positioning an organization to make the most of their opportunities and to minimize threats. Repositioning Reference may be used as a textbook by LIS educators whose courses and learning experiences prepare aspiring librarians to lead the reference revolution and by practicing librarians in diverse settings who want to be change agents.

This revised and updated sixth edition of Reference and Information Services continues the book's rich tradition, covering all phases of reference and information services with less emphasis on print and more emphasis on strategies and scenarios. Reference and Information Services is the go-to textbook for MSLIS and i-School courses on reference services and related topics. It is also a helpful handbook for practitioners. Authors include LIS faculty and professionals who have relevant degrees in their areas and who have published extensively on their topics. The first half of the book provides an overview of reference services and techniques for service provision, including the reference interview, ethics, instruction, reader's advisory, and services to diverse populations including children. This part of the book establishes a foundation of knowledge on reference service and frames each topic with ethical and social justice perspectives. The second part of the book offers an overview of the information life cycle and dissemination of information, followed by an in-depth examination of information sources by type-including dictionaries, encyclopedias, indexes, and abstracts-as well as by broad subject areas including government, statistics and data, health, and legal information. This second section introduces the tools and resources that reference professionals use to provide the services described in the first half of the text. Reference and Information Services is a recognized textbook for information retrieval courses and updates the previous edition Editors and contributors are experts in the field Activity boxes engage readers and invite them to reflect on what they are learning and to practice skills through real-life exercises Conscious integration of critical theory and social justice perspectives offers critical reflection on the standards and practices of the field and encourages readers to consider alternate perspectives

This nationwide analysis documents how institutions of higher education are responding to demands for accountability and transparency by implementing and assessing learning goals for information literacy. Stakeholders in higher education across the country-including students, parents, research and policy organizations, and government agencies-are demanding greater accountability and transparency from institutions in how they are promoting quality and improvement in colleges and universities. Indeed, as the cost of tuition rises, colleges and universities as well as the organizations which accredit them are coming under increased scrutiny. Logically, student learning outcomes, assessment, and accreditation are all constantly under the magnifying glass. Information Literacy as a Student Learning Outcome: The Perspective of Institutional Accreditation fills a gap in the current literature by inspecting how institutions nationwide are fulfilling accreditation standards in the area of information literacy. While the bulk of the book looks at institutions accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, all six of the regional accreditation areas are addressed. The author also conducted campus visits and interviews at selected institutions in order to provide a more in-depth analysis of these institutions' programs for information literacy. Figures and tables End-of-chapter references and a final bibliography A subject index