tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post2015113288128474291..comments2024-03-27T05:00:00.090-04:00Comments on Letters to a Young Librarian: Learn From My Mistakes: Reference InterviewsJessica Olinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-26589908416911592732011-11-15T21:03:27.446-05:002011-11-15T21:03:27.446-05:00I just started my first job as a reference and ins...I just started my first job as a reference and instruction librarian and this post was really helpful. I find myself struggling all the time with helping patrons learn how to find the answer, as opposed to just giving them the info they want. I guess it depends on the patron and if they want to learn or if they are impatient. I'm still working on my reference interview skills. My ref class was pretty good, but nothing quite prepares you for the real thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-71302203503962046132011-11-10T21:22:12.129-05:002011-11-10T21:22:12.129-05:00Good advice! I hope I remember it if I ever find m...Good advice! I hope I remember it if I ever find myself in a job that involves more reference work. I agree with Miss Anna that working a reference desk seems intimidating right now. My reference and online searching classes were decent, but there's nothing like on-the-job experience to boost your confidence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-60097287413017193992011-11-09T22:31:11.917-05:002011-11-09T22:31:11.917-05:00Today someone asked for the Suze Orman books. It t...Today someone asked for the Suze Orman books. It turned out she had seen Orman on TV yesterday, and the subject was living wills. Totally not in the Suze Orman section. My co-worker mentioned that she has been slacking on her reference interview lately!Carihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17089762130217570280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-72620995274314695982011-11-09T13:59:48.512-05:002011-11-09T13:59:48.512-05:00Thanks for the comments. I had a decent reference ...Thanks for the comments. I had a decent reference class during my MLIS. I liked the professor enough that I also took Bibliographic Instruction from her. The big thing for me is that there's a difference between learning it in a classroom (discussing the ethics of a reference interview and reading the theory behind the interaction) and what happens when you're in the thick of a real life reference interview.Jessica Olinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-76489964400661035752011-11-09T10:34:14.113-05:002011-11-09T10:34:14.113-05:00For a full account, read Conducting the Reference ...For a full account, read Conducting the Reference Interview: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians by Catherine S. Ross and Patricia Dewdney (there is a new edition, but I haven't seen it). Catherine Ross was one of my MLIS instructors and she was excellent, and this book contains much of what we did in class. I worked at a reference desk as I worked on my degree, and I know her class helped immensely.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01182634416071817358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-45812011123112470042011-11-09T10:28:10.147-05:002011-11-09T10:28:10.147-05:00I first read that as Listen Emphatically.
BAM! I...I first read that as Listen Emphatically. <br /><br />BAM! I'M LISTENING!Anna Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06542744978194806986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-8937460898948662992011-11-09T10:21:56.991-05:002011-11-09T10:21:56.991-05:00Ooh, I really appreciate this! My reference instru...Ooh, I really appreciate this! My reference instruction in lib. school left a LOT to be desired and I've always felt like that was a huge hole in my education. But, as I read this I find that I use a lot of the techniques you mention here. I'm a public librarian and don't do a lot of reference, and am very insecure about it--but this made me feel like maybe I'm better than I give myself credit for :)Ms. Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09093580866958106241noreply@blogger.com