The document discusses how providing reference services to council staff can benefit libraries and the local government organization in several ways. It can improve the profile and perceived professional skills of librarians, increase use of library resources, and improve the quality of information used by council officers in their work. The document provides examples of reference requests from council staff and models of virtual and physical library services that can be provided, such as access to databases, current awareness services, and use of web 2.0 tools. It recommends starting reference services for council staff by promoting the library through cards, inductions, newsletters and training.
21. Next meeting 7 th July 2010 Target Room, SLNSW 10am-1pm [email_address] [email_address]
22.
Hinweis der Redaktion
Think about where the library sits within the structure of your council. When it comes to allocation of funds we need to be fully aware of the competing demands on council resources.
{Read slide} For public libraries to thrive into the future, for you to continue to provide reference services to the wider community then libraries must have the sustained support of the organisation as a whole. There are many ways libraries do this 1) By providing & measuring services provided to the public 2) Using the libraries as cultural venues 3) By delivering some council services and information from the library. As reference librarians we can make our own contribution.
Gil lian Hallam from QUT has recently done a literature review as part of the Queensland Government Agency Library Review. While she is talking about government agency libraries more as special libraries, she has highlighted the need for libraries to clearly articulate the value of the library service to the parent body. As a reference librarian you can play a role here.
Quote one: We can assist council staff in accessing quality information sources. Quote two: I am finding that many of my request come when staff have exhausted their own Google efforts. They need more and the librarian is the go-to-person when they realise this.
An over- reliance on do-it-yourself web searching means that staff are missing out. As a ref librarian you are placed to access these resources on behalf of staff across the organisation.
It’s amazing what a phrase search on Google will find! There was an article in the SMH the other day about the fairly poor results students in NSW achieved in IT literacy…….if you think all council staff can simply find what they need on the internet, this is not the case.
Weblinks for Womens in Leadership program…..Diversity project.
Sutherland Library’s Corporate Library Service – Blog, Journals, delicious links
