Reference and Information Services—An Introduction

Cassell (library science, Rutgers U.) and Hiremath, a library director, are joined by other librarians from the US for this introduction to reference and information services for students and librarians. They link questions to sources, rather than classifying resources and describing their general use, and cover in-person, telephone, and virtual reference interviews; basic search techniques; answering questions about books, magazines, newspapers, libraries and publishing, and bibliographic networks; and answering questions using encyclopedias, ready reference sources, dictionaries, concordances, manuals, databases and indexes, special sources, atlases, gazetteers, maps, geographic information systems, travel guides, and biographical and government information sources. They include sample questions, collection development and maintenance practices, the top ten sources, recommended websites, and specific information about each topic. Subsequent chapters cover using the internet, reader's advisory, information literacy, selecting and evaluating materials, managing reference departments, and assessing and improving services. This edition has updated or replaced sources, an updated chapter on Reference 2.0 tools, a rewritten chapter on working with children and young adults, and a new chapter on ethics, and it highlights electronic resources. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)