Developing Reference Collections and Services in an Electronic Age

by Cassell, Kay Ann

• ISBN13: 9781555703639
• ISBN10: 1555703631
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-01
• Publisher: Neal Schuman Pub

Summary

The massive shift in how information is now published and collected has space, cost, and service policy implications for every library's reference collection. This detailed how-to has two purposes: first, to help reference librarians plan, select, and develop these new collections; second, to help them rework their services in light of changing collections. Cassell discusses selection criteria (with examples), examines the future of the format in the reference collection, and the types of material (e.g.: full text encyclopedia or index). Readers are guided through the necessary collection development decisions, including the advantages and disadvantages of print vs. electronic media for content, content appropriateness for the format, demand, cost (required software and hardware), space (required equipment), time (installation), and the learning curve needed to use -- and teach -- new electronic reference tools. Details on reference book publishers and trends, recommended print and electronic evaluation tools, user and staff education, suggestions, model polici

Table of Contents

List of Figures	vii
Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(2)
Changing Reference Collections	3	(1)
Adapting Budget Allocations	4	(1)
Reference Service Patterns	5	(1)
Changing Staff Needs	6	(2)
Users and User Education	8	(1)
The Future of Reference Service	8	(1)
Notes	9	(2)
The Changing Face of Reference Collections	11	(36)
Reference Sources by Format	11	(14)
Print Sources	12	(2)
CD-ROM Sources	14	(2)
Commercial Database Sources	16	(2)
Internet Sources	18	(7)
Reference Sources by Type of Material	25	(10)
Encyclopedias	26	(2)
Dictionaries, Thesauri, and Quotation Books	28	(1)
Directories	29	(1)
Atlases	30	(1)
Biographical Source Locators	31	(1)
Government Information Sources	32	(1)
Indexes	33	(2)
Reference Sources by Subject	35	(8)
The Sciences	35	(2)
The Social Sciences	37	(3)
The Humanities	40	(3)
Tools for Developing Reference Collections	43	(3)
Internet Directories and Evaluative Guides	44	(2)
Notes	46	(1)
Changing Reference Service Patterns and Models	47	(28)
In-Library Reference Service	48	(6)
Academic Library Models	48	(2)
Public Library Models	50	(1)
Staffing Patterns	51	(1)
Roving Reference Assistance	51	(2)
Making Reference More User-Friendly	53	(1)
Telephone Reference Service	54	(3)
Electronic Reference Service	57	(7)
Policy Considerations	58	(1)
Form Design and Use	59	(1)
E-mail Reference Service Models	60	(4)
New Reference Service Challenges	64	(10)
Distance Learning Programs	64	(9)
Technical Support for Users	73	(1)
The Future: Constant Change	73	(1)
Notes	74	(1)
User and Staff Education Needs	75	(20)
Ways of Providing User Education	76	(15)
Self-Help Guides and Tutorials	76	(2)
Individual Instruction	78	(1)
Group Instruction	79	(4)
Distance Learning	83	(1)
Models for Teaching Specific Skills	83	(6)
The Future of User Education	89	(2)
Planning for Staff Education	91	(2)
Notes	93	(2)
Planning for the Future	95	(30)
Collection Evaluation and Deselection	96	(2)
Collection Development Policy Considerations	98	(14)
Formats	98	(1)
Reliability of the Publisher	99	(1)
Currency	99	(1)
Relationship of Print and Electronic Sources	99	(1)
Ease of Use	99	(1)
Access Issues	99	(1)
Technical Compatibility	100	(1)
Cost and Pricing	100	(1)
Use, Demand, and Redundancy	101	(1)
Cooperative Collection Development and Consortial Arrangements	101	(11)
Access Development Policies	112	(2)
Reference Service Evaluation Methods	114	(4)
Surveys	114	(2)
Focus Groups	116	(2)
Other Methods	118	(1)
Putting All the Pieces Together in a Plan	118	(3)
Materials	118	(1)
Services	119	(1)
Personnel	119	(1)
Budget	120	(1)
Marketing	121	(1)
Final Thoughts	121	(3)
Notes	124	(1)
Bibliography	125	(4)
Reference Resources Cited	129	(4)
Index	133	(6)
About the Author	139