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Research Guides

Reference Refresh: Librarian Workshop: August 7, 2025

August 5-7, 2025

Professional Competencies for Reference Services, Including Subject Librarian Work

(excerpt, see full report for more information)

5A. Accesses relevant and accurate recorded knowledge and information  

Offers services responsive to individual expressed user needs
  1. Applies Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers
  2. Recognizes, honors, and responds appropriately to diversity and cultural differences
  3. Determines situational context of individual information needs
  4. Engages in discussion and expresses interest in individual experiences related to information needs
  5. Understands and applies laws and policies governing confidentiality and rights to privacy
  6. Consults with the user to identify the most appropriate resources in the context of accuracy, authority, interest, and content level
  7. Respects the right of individuals to pursue their research preferences
  8. Assists the user in evaluating, managing, formatting, storing, using, or displaying information
  9. Consults with the user to select appropriate technology for providing answers, balancing the nature of the information being provided with user preferences
  10. Applies knowledge of state of the art information retrieval technologies and systems to assist the user in identifying and obtaining information
  11. Identifies opportunities for instruction that empowers users to improve their own information-seeking abilities 

5B. Evaluates, collects, retrieves, and synthesizes information from diverse sources

Identifies and presents highly recommended sources
  1. Connects users to tools that can help them identify diverse sources of information
  2. Connects users to highly recommended, carefully selected sources in many formats
  3. Evaluates reference tools and sources for quality, relevance, authenticity, authority, and inclusiveness
  4. Identifies any bias or point of view in an information resource
  5. Creates useful research guides, web pages, bibliographies, finding aids, and other appropriate tools in areas of expertise

Readings

Everyone should read both of these articles before we meet. 

 

8/6/25 3:53pm update: Hold off on reading "AI on the Shoulders of Giants." We'll discuss this article at a later date. For 8/7, let's focus on "Zones of Intervention in the Process of Information Seeking."

Deep Dive into Any Type of Information Resource 

Before we meet, find as many print and electronic non-reference sources in Geisel's collections that support a student's learning about your assigned topic. Add links to the catalog records for the sources to the Padlet. We will be sharing our findings with the group (e.g. What information does it provide? How is it relevant to the student's search process and learning about the topic? etc...). You're welcome to bring print sources with you to share with the group.

Made with Padlet