michelle lake, carleton university donna millard, mcmaster university
TRANSCRIPT
Michelle Lake, Carleton UniversityDonna Millard, McMaster University
The Debate◦ Librarians on Desk? NO: Donna Millard◦ Librarians on Desk? YES: Michelle Lake
The DiscussionWhat do you think?
Focus on Facts◦Reference Statistics are declining and
have been so for DECADES
Getting to Reference 2.0
Focus on facts:◦Types of questions being asked do not require, on the most part, an Academic Librarian
Focus on Facts:◦ Trend in academic libraries to remove librarians
from desk or keep them on for minimal hours McMaster is currently working on new Blended
Service desks University of Western Ontario Science Library has
already done so St. Michael’s College at University of Toronto is now
moving to this staffing model
Focus on Facts:◦ Academic Librarians are involved with many other
activities; not enough time to do it all properly◦ David Lewis proposes a new focus for Academic
Libraries from Library 1.0 to Library 2.0
Library 1.0 Library 2.0
Collections
Standalone tools, resources and expertiseBureaucraticCarefulPredictableSafeReference/Cataloguing “core”
Primary informal learning space on campusEmbedded in teaching, learning and researchNimbleChaotic and excitingUncertainRisk takingTeaching and Learning “core”
David W. Lewis A Strategy for Academic Libraries in the First
Quarter of the 21st Century, 2007
“Reference librarians were moved to “on call” status… Murphy, B. et al. Revolution at the Library Service Desk, Medical Reference
Services Quarterly, 27(4), Winter 2008
“[Steven] Bell argued for the abolition of the reference desk by the year 2012.”
Dagger, J. Brave New World: Reference librarians in the age of Google, Duke Magazine, Sept-Oct 2008.
“…as long as there is reference activity in a library building, non-ALA accredited personnel will be a part of it and in the future may play an even greater role.”
Banks, J. and C. Pracht. Reference Desk Staffing Trends: A survey, Reference & User Services Quarterly, 48(1), Fall 2008, 54-59.
What is the literature What is the literature saying?saying?
The number of questions being asked is declining, but the complexity and difficulty in the questions is increasing
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
The decline in reference statistics is caused by a number of different factors, including:
◦ persistent library anxiety◦ an increasing belief that searching is simple
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
Massive amounts of information available online makes the role of a librarian even more key
As subjects become more interdisciplinary, the need for expert voices in search becomes an essential role for the library
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
The nature of the questions has shifted and although many inquires appear to be simple, a reference interview can uncover a misunderstanding of the research process…
Librarian on Desk? YESLibrarian on Desk? YES
What about the numbers?
Librarian on Desk? YESLibrarian on Desk? YES
Applegate, Rachel. “Whose Decline? Which Academic Libraries are ‘Deserted’ in Terms of Reference Transactions?” Reference & User Quarterly, 48.2 (Winter 2008) pp. 176-189.
The ‘Millennial students’ have changed the nature of the academic environment and can Google with ease, but this does not mean that there is a greater depth of knowledge in research
◦ Perhaps the questions shouldn’t be ‘librarians on the desk?’ but ‘how can the librarians on the desk reach more users?’
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
Not every student is a tech-savvy millennial
◦ Diversity in the student population, in terms of educational background, age, and economic strata will effect their interaction with the library and the technology therein
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
In Person vs. Email vs. IM/Chat vs. 2.0 and beyond..
How does tiered service function?
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
Library-As-Place
The Reference Desk as a Hub
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
Connection…◦ To the students◦ To the community◦ To the current concerns/assignments/subjects
Librarians need to be in the classroom, they need to be in the departments, however, with out the desk, they may lose connection & context with the students
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
Lessons in social interaction?
Lessons in seeking assistance?
What about a different kind of ‘desk’?◦ Virtual and physical space◦ Mobile Desk
Librarians on Desk? YESLibrarians on Desk? YES
What do you think?
Show of hands for No, Librarians off the desk
Show of hands for Yes, Librarians on the desk
The Debate is over!The Debate is over!
Now we want to know why!
Please feel free to comment on the debate
The count is in…The count is in…
Understanding the community is more important Mixed service has already been proven Librarians on-call can stay in touch Going out into the community will allow librarians to keep
in contact Funding issues Fewer deep reference questions Students don’t know/care about different desks/staff Combining the desks can be effective Good Library Technician support How much expertise can a librarian apply to an undergrad? Formally trained library staff is good enough
Your comments: Off the deskYour comments: Off the desk
Don’t want to lose touch with the user Statistics can lie First impressions are important and lasting Get contact with users Librarians should be providing leadership and expertise at the
desk as well as elsewhere Referrals don’t always work—time issues Librarians save time Use desk time as a reality check (comment from administrator) Get the student’s perspective Connection developed with library staff If on call, does staff on desk know when to call on duty librarian? Experience is invaluable How else do you truly keep up to date? Formal library education is very important and applicable to desk Use as a collection development tool as well
Your comments: On the deskYour comments: On the desk
Feel free to continue the conversation with us
◦ Donna Millard [email protected]
◦ Michelle Lake [email protected]
Our slides will be posted on the Conference site.
Thanks for your Thanks for your participationparticipation