Presentation
Ready Reference Training for Public Access Services
2018 Medical Library Association Annual Meeting
(2018)
Abstract
The paper examines the implementation of a ready reference training program for public service staff. The program was envisioned to educated staff in anticipation of dwindling traditional reference desk service hours. The hope of this project was to increase foundational knowledge of public services staff, improve point of need response, and decrease utilization of on-call librarians for basic questions.
The Kornhauser Health Sciences Library at the University of Louisville developed a training program to equip 10 public access staff with ready reference, website, and electronic resource skills. The training was administered in two separate 90 minute sessions according to public access staff schedules. One collections librarian, one clinical services librarian, and one technology librarian gave instruction on utilizing the newly redesigned website, efficient use of the library catalog, and decision making between the most frequently utilized library resources. In addition, downloading mobile applications and troubleshooting access issues were discussed. This paper describes the planning process, development, and challenges encountered.
Keywords
- staff instruction,
- cross training,
- ready reference,
- circulation,
- public access
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring May 20, 2018
Location
Atlanta, GA
Citation Information
Tiffney Gipson, Lauren E Robinson and Jessica L Petrey. "Ready Reference Training for Public Access Services" 2018 Medical Library Association Annual Meeting (2018) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lauren_robinson/4/