[Baynet] Infopeople's Sacramento session of "Reference Interview Skills for Academic Library Staff"

[Linda Rodenspiel]

We have rescheduled a session of this workshop in Sacramento. Since some
people who may be interested in participating might not receive this notice
directly, we would appreciate it if you would print and post or route this
announcement to staff and colleagues. Thanks!

 

 

Title:  Reference Interview Skills for Academic Library Staff

 

Date and location:

 

Wednesday, April 9, California State University - Sacramento

 

To register for this workshop:  Use the online registration form at

http://infopeople.org/workshop/358

 

Fee:  There is a $75.00 fee for this workshop.

 

What do all of the following scenarios have in common?

.         A reference librarian quickly and correctly answers a student's
question, only to find out that the student really wanted something else. 

.         The librarian with the best searching skills does not get asked
many questions because students are intimidated to approach with their
questions. 

.         An instruction librarian prepares a whole set of handouts for a
class assignment, showing the students the best databases and reference
books, only to find out later that the instructor wants the students to use
Google Scholar. 

.         A librarian answering a chat/instant messenger question spends a
lot of time and finds the perfect web site, only to discover that the user
has left the session. 

Each of these is an example of the failure of the reference interview. The
heart of reference service is the interpersonal interaction between the
librarian and the user. No matter what tools we use to communicate or what
resources are available, a failure to understand the user's need will result
in a failed search. Reference librarians require strong interpersonal skills
in order to effectively help their users.

This workshop will give reference librarians some specific skills that they
can use to improve their interactions with their users. Instruction will
cover approachability factors, questioning techniques, and follow-up actions
in both in-person and remote reference service.

Workshop Description: This all day workshop will provide basic and advanced
training in the interpersonal skills required to conduct a successful
reference interview. Through observation, role-playing, and video, the
participants will see the complex psychological factors that come into play
during the transaction. By seeing themselves as their users see them, they
will learn how to become more approachable and how to use questioning
techniques to find out what their users are really asking. 

Preliminary Course Outline

*	Introduction to and Importance of the Reference Interview 

*	Styles of reference 
*	Reference as other professions might do it 
*	ALA Behavioral Guidelines 

*	Approachability 

*	Factors that encourage or discourage use 
*	In-person and online issues 

*	Communication 

*	Nonverbal communication 
*	Verbal communication 
*	Open- and closed-ended questions 
*	Role playing 

*	Follow-up and Assessment 

*	Importance of follow-up 
*	Assessment techniques 

Instructor:  Dave Tyckoson. Dave is Head of Public Services at the Henry
Madden Library, California State University - Fresno. Prior to coming to
California in 1997, he held positions at SUNY-Albany, Iowa State University,
and Miami (Ohio) University. He has an undergraduate degree in Physics and a
Master's degree in Library Science, both from the University of Illinois. He
has been involved with reference service for 25 years and has written
extensively about reference service and the reference interview. He
developed and taught the online continuing education course on the Reference
Interview that is offered by ALA/RUSA and he has been elected as the
2007-2008 President of RUSA.

Who Should Attend: This training is designed for reference librarians at
academic libraries. Anyone who works with the public either in-person or
online can benefit from this workshop. 

Prerequisites: None 

Other Logistics:

 

*On-site check-in is from 8:30-9:00 AM;  instruction is from 9:00 AM-4:30
PM.

 

*Maps, directions, and parking information are available on the Infopeople
Web site at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Directions. 

Infopeople does not validate or pay for parking.

 

*Infopeople does not provide refreshments or lunch.  Since some training
locations do not have in-house or convenient food service, Infopeople
recommends that participants bring a sack lunch.

 

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information
about Infopeople training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople Workshops
page at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop

 

If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, please
contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at
assist at infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.

 

 

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