Moving Reference in New Directions Revitalizing Reference Services

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Moving Reference in New Directions Revitalizing
Reference Services

• Ane Carriveau, Valerie Viers
• Carl Ziebell
• Ripon College Lane Library

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The Problem AKA The Desk

• For patrons
• Poor location
• Intimidating very public

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The Problem AKA The Desk

• For staff
• Low usage
• Staffing desk seen as wasting time or
  punishment

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Options

• Adjust the hours reference services are offered.
• Move the desk to a new location.
• More advertising.
• Our solution
• Lets kill the desk!

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Factors we considered

• History of reference at Ripon
• Ability to staff the desk regularly
• Possible places to move the desk
• Types of questions students ask
• What were we really after?
• Better Service!

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Reference Hours
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Why it works for us

• Department Liaison Program
• Information Literacy Instruction Initiatives
• First Year Studies
• Senior Seminars
• Value-added service
• Training our student workers
• Location, Location, Location!!!

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Reference Section
Staff Offices Workroom
ANE
CARL
REF DESK
VAL
CIRC DESK
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Now
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Some unexpected benefits

• The librarians are so friendly and really
  helpful. Carl helped me find a lot of
  information for my senior paper. Admissions
  tour guide to perspectives
• Were not seen as the police. A lot of people
  felt like we sat at the desk to watch them.
• Improved quality for students and staff. No more
  desperate looking librarian asking if you need
  help because you looked at him/her.