Meeting student needs at the reference desk

Gratz, Amy; Gilbert, Julie

doi:10.1108/00907321111161412

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Yet, there is still a need for mediated reference services and value in individual attention from a librarian, librarian’s expertise and librarian/student engagement (Bandyopadhyay and Boyd-Byrnes, 2016; Rogers and Carrier, 2016). Gratz and Gilbert (2011, p. 431) in a study of students at their institution found that students “view the reference desk as a necessary service”. Students need assistance finding and selecting sources, evaluating sources for reliability, providing information about the library, and reducing their stress (Magi and Mardeusz, 2013).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Affirming the research party reference model

Riehman-Murphy

Hunter

2019

RSR

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence of the value of Research Parties, a new model of supplementary reference in a social environment. Design/methodology/approach A survey of multiple choice and open-ended questions was administered to Research Party participants (n = 43) over the course of three semesters to discover the profiles of the undergraduate students who attended and how they heard about the event and to assess the value of the interaction to the student. Findings Respondents unanimously agreed that their interactions with librarians at Research Parties were helpful because their information seeking needs, including finding sources, learning how to search databases, gaining clarity into the assignment, writing and citing, were met. Respondents also mentioned attributes of the librarian’s disposition or attitude such as enthusiastic conversation, encouragement and patience. Several students reflected on their own learning process and noted that they would seek help from a librarian again. Practical implications The results demonstrate that Research Parties are helpful to undergraduate students and a worthwhile model for academic libraries looking to complement their traditional reference services. Originality/value While faculty and administrators have verbally expressed excitement about Research Parties, librarian colleagues have anecdotally reported success instituting this model at their institutions, and students have provided informal positive feedback, this is the first time the model has been evaluated more formally to capture its value.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Affirming the research party reference model

Riehman-Murphy

Hunter

2019

RSR

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“…Julien, Given & Opryshko, 2013;Click, 2014), photo diaries (e.g. Gabridge, Gaskell & Stout, 2008;Keller, 2012;Gratz & Gilbert, 2011), photo survey (e.g. Briden, 2007), photo-narrative (e.g.…”

Section: Terminologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Participant-driven photo-elicitation in library settings: A methodological discussion

Bedi

Webb

2018

LIR

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With the current attention in libraries on user-focused services and spaces, there is an increased interest in qualitative research methods that can provide insight into users’ experiences. In this paper, we advance photo-elicitation—a research method that employs photographs in interviews—as one such method. Although widely used in the social sciences, photo-elicitation has seen comparatively little uptake in Library and Information Studies (LIS). Here, we provide an overview of the method, consider epistemological and theoretical approaches, discuss cases of its application in library contexts and examine the benefits of using photo-elicitation for LIS research. We draw on our own research experiences and argue that photo-elicitation is a productive method for learning about the lived experiences of our users and for creating a collaborative approach to library research.

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“…The use of student reference assistants to aid in the provision of reference services has a long history within the library profession (Maxey-Harris et al, 2010;Heinlein, 1976). The abundance of recent research provides further evidence of the centrality of student reference assistants to the functioning of the modern academic library (Faix, 2014;Folk, 2014;Han et al, 2014;Mitchell and Soini, 2014;Gremmels, 2013;Langan, 2012;Gratz and Gilbert, 2011;Stanfield and Palmer, 2011;Maxey-Harris et al, 2010;Baird, 2003;Sheets, 1998;Walker and Fliotsos, 1992). In fact, as the Association of College & Research Libraries has noted, the proportion of student workers as a percentage of total library staff has steadily increased since the 1970s, with students making up as much as 31 per cent of total staff in bachelor's degree granting institutions in 2008…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While there are many potential benefits for students who are employed in libraries, there are also a number of benefits to the professional librarians who employ them. Perhaps the most cited advantage in the literature is the fact that employing student reference assistants frees professional librarians from answering directional and, possibly, simple reference questions, so that they can focus on high-level tasks (Folk, 2014;Mitchell and Soini, 2014;Gratz and Gilbert, 2011;Stanfield and Palmer, 2011). As one group of researchers showed, the plurality of questions that are typically presented at reference desks are directional in nature (Chan, 2014).…”

Section: Benefits To Librariansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of students working as library reference assistants at a University Library

Brenza

Kowalsky

Brush

2015

Reference Services Review

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Purpose – This paper aims to develop a better understanding of student worker perceptions of academic libraries in an effort to improve student worker training, position structure and, ultimately, their perceptions of the library. The value of student reference assistants extends well beyond the completion of assigned library tasks. Specifically, student reference assistants can be important community voices and advocates for academic libraries, spreading, by word-of-mouth, the kinds of library services available to students and their relevance to the academic community. Consequently, it is essential to gain an understanding of how student workers perceive the academic library as a result of their employment. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses an informal, anonymous online survey of student reference assistants to gather information on student worker perceptions of the library. Questions focus on student workers’ understanding of library services and resources as well as on the library’s mission and purpose. An analysis of student responses is provided in light of four “ideal” perceptions which the librarians hold for all students. Findings – Overall, student worker responses to the survey generally aligned with the ideal perceptions. However, misalignments suggest the need for training that focuses on the development of a broader understanding of the library’s role in the academic community. Practical implications – The paper can help academic librarians gain insight on how student workers understand the role of the library within the larger academic community and how positive student worker perceptions can be leveraged for outreach purposes. Originality/value – This paper examines an important aspect of student worker perception that has generally been overlooked in the literature.

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Meeting student needs at the reference desk

Cited by 11 publications

References 13 publications

Affirming the research party reference model

Affirming the research party reference model

Participant-driven photo-elicitation in library settings: A methodological discussion

Perceptions of students working as library reference assistants at a University Library

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