Comments on: the future of the reference desk http://laurenpressley.com/library/2008/12/the-future-of-the-reference-desk/ reading, thinking, and experimenting with the future of libraries, education, and information Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:05:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Linda Thompson http://laurenpressley.com/library/2008/12/the-future-of-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-17758 Linda Thompson Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:15:31 +0000 http://laurenpressley.com/library/?p=722#comment-17758 I agree that this is the future. The costumer service is very important. and some people need a human not just a machine. I agree that this is the future. The costumer service is very important. and some
people need a human not just a machine.

]]> By: lauren pressley http://laurenpressley.com/library/2008/12/the-future-of-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-17117 lauren pressley Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:46:55 +0000 http://laurenpressley.com/library/?p=722#comment-17117 Emily, good point! Char Booth is doing some <a href="http://infomational.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/reconstituting-the-video-kiosk/" rel="nofollow">interesting work</a> using Skype for reference at Ohio University. I often wonder if it would be useful for our study abroad students. For what it's worth, the students I talk to say they don't call the reference desk from the library because of the noise they would make on the phone. I think that they would have a similar reaction to using video within the library. However, from residence halls, apartments, and other countries, it could be a good fit. Thanks for your comment! Emily, good point! Char Booth is doing some interesting work using Skype for reference at Ohio University. I often wonder if it would be useful for our study abroad students.

For what it’s worth, the students I talk to say they don’t call the reference desk from the library because of the noise they would make on the phone. I think that they would have a similar reaction to using video within the library. However, from residence halls, apartments, and other countries, it could be a good fit.

Thanks for your comment!

]]> By: Emily http://laurenpressley.com/library/2008/12/the-future-of-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-17105 Emily Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:56:21 +0000 http://laurenpressley.com/library/?p=722#comment-17105 I'm in library school at the moment and I was wondering if anyone thinks that the reference desk will use webcams at some point to conduct reference interviews? We use email and instant messaging so it seems that to use technology at its fullest for a perfect technology-orientated interview we would use webcams. Thanks! I really enjoyed reading your blog and comments :) I’m in library school at the moment and I was wondering if anyone thinks that the reference desk will use webcams at some point to conduct reference interviews?

We use email and instant messaging so it seems that to use technology at its fullest for a perfect technology-orientated interview we would use webcams.

Thanks! I really enjoyed reading your blog and comments :)

]]> By: lauren pressley http://laurenpressley.com/library/2008/12/the-future-of-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-17103 lauren pressley Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:00:11 +0000 http://laurenpressley.com/library/?p=722#comment-17103 Mary Beth: I can't wait to see the paper!! George: Good points. I especially like your last question. I do think a lot of this is institution specific. Laurie left a good point on my Facebook about how her public library has a very busy reference desk (with questions we just don't get). I agree, the stereotypical customer service, refer to a website, have a horrible experience, is something we don't want to imitate. But with evidence that a lot of college library users want to help themselves, I think a really well designed library website (with built-in excellent training materials) can help, particularly if the web design process includes usability testing... which I wish more places would do in general. :) Joe: I love the terminology change, much more user-centered! I also think that your grad model/consultations is a good one. We use a consultation model in addition to the ref desk hours, and our consultation stats are increasing at an amazing rate. I think we might see this emerge as a practice standard. Thanks for reminding me about the Reference Renaissance. I'll check out the powerpoint right away! Mary Beth: I can’t wait to see the paper!!

George: Good points. I especially like your last question. I do think a lot of this is institution specific. Laurie left a good point on my Facebook about how her public library has a very busy reference desk (with questions we just don’t get). I agree, the stereotypical customer service, refer to a website, have a horrible experience, is something we don’t want to imitate. But with evidence that a lot of college library users want to help themselves, I think a really well designed library website (with built-in excellent training materials) can help, particularly if the web design process includes usability testing… which I wish more places would do in general. :)

Joe: I love the terminology change, much more user-centered! I also think that your grad model/consultations is a good one. We use a consultation model in addition to the ref desk hours, and our consultation stats are increasing at an amazing rate. I think we might see this emerge as a practice standard. Thanks for reminding me about the Reference Renaissance. I’ll check out the powerpoint right away!

]]> By: Joe Kraus http://laurenpressley.com/library/2008/12/the-future-of-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-17101 Joe Kraus Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:40:42 +0000 http://laurenpressley.com/library/?p=722#comment-17101 We (at the U of Denver) changed our "Reference Desk" name to the Research Help Desk, and students understand that terminology a little bit better. We also changed our service model to just have grad students (LIS for the most part) work at the Research Help Desk, while the reference librarians schedule 30-60 min consultations for the more in-depth questions. In August of 2008, BCR and RUSA sponsored a conference called the Reference Renaissance. I was not able to attend, but this (and other) PowerPoints might be of interest -- Amelia Brunskill, Dickinson College, PA, "The Desk is Gone" -- http://www.bcr.org/referencerenaissance/docs/BrunskillReferenceRenaissanceFinal.ppt Tootles, Joe We (at the U of Denver) changed our “Reference Desk” name to the Research Help Desk, and students understand that terminology a little bit better. We also changed our service model to just have grad students (LIS for the most part) work at the Research Help Desk, while the reference librarians schedule 30-60 min consultations for the more in-depth questions.

In August of 2008, BCR and RUSA sponsored a conference called the Reference Renaissance. I was not able to attend, but this (and other) PowerPoints might be of interest — Amelia Brunskill, Dickinson College, PA, “The Desk is Gone” — http://www.bcr.org/referencerenaissance/docs/BrunskillReferenceRenaissanceFinal.ppt

Tootles, Joe

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