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class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>History</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-History-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Resources" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Resources"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Resources</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Resources-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Services" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Services"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Services</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Services-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Staff_qualifications" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Staff_qualifications"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Staff qualifications</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Staff_qualifications-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Electronic_reference_services" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Electronic_reference_services"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Electronic reference services</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Electronic_reference_services-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Reference desk</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" 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Available in 9 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-9" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">9 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Referen%C4%8Dn%C3%AD_slu%C5%BEby" title="Referenční služby – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Referenční služby" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auskunftsbibliothekar" title="Auskunftsbibliothekar – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Auskunftsbibliothekar" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servicio_de_referencia" title="Servicio de referencia – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Servicio de referencia" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%A0%88%ED%8D%BC%EB%9F%B0%EC%8A%A4_%EB%8D%B0%EC%8A%A4%ED%81%AC" title="레퍼런스 데스크 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="레퍼런스 데스크" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olvas%C3%B3szolg%C3%A1lat" title="Olvasószolgálat – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Olvasószolgálat" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meja_rujukan_perpustakaan" title="Meja rujukan perpustakaan – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Meja rujukan perpustakaan" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AC%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%83%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9" title="レファレンスサービス – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="レファレンスサービス" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2" title="ปุจฉาวิสัชนา – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="ปุจฉาวิสัชนา" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8F%83%E8%80%83%E6%9C%8D%E5%8B%99" title="參考服務 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="參考服務" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q630961#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Reference_desk" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c"><span>Article</span></a></li><li id="ca-talk" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Talk:Reference_desk" rel="discussion" title="Discuss improvements to the content page [t]" accesskey="t"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown emptyPortlet" > <input 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</div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-whatlinkshere" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Reference_desk" title="List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]" accesskey="j"><span>What links here</span></a></li><li id="t-recentchangeslinked" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Reference_desk" rel="nofollow" title="Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]" accesskey="k"><span>Related changes</span></a></li><li id="t-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard" title="Upload files [u]" accesskey="u"><span>Upload file</span></a></li><li id="t-specialpages" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:SpecialPages" title="A list of all special pages [q]" accesskey="q"><span>Special pages</span></a></li><li id="t-permalink" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&oldid=1259315884" title="Permanent link to this revision of this page"><span>Permanent link</span></a></li><li id="t-info" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=info" title="More information about this page"><span>Page information</span></a></li><li id="t-cite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Reference_desk&id=1259315884&wpFormIdentifier=titleform" title="Information on how to cite this page"><span>Cite this page</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FReference_desk"><span>Get shortened URL</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener-qrcode" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:QrCode&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FReference_desk"><span>Download QR code</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-coll-print_export" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-coll-print_export" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Print/export </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="coll-download-as-rl" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Reference_desk&action=show-download-screen" title="Download this page as a PDF file"><span>Download as PDF</span></a></li><li id="t-print" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&printable=yes" title="Printable version of this page [p]" accesskey="p"><span>Printable version</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-wikibase-otherprojects" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-wikibase-otherprojects" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> In other projects </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-commons mw-list-item"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Reference_desks" hreflang="en"><span>Wikimedia Commons</span></a></li><li id="t-wikibase" class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-wikibase-dataitem mw-list-item"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q630961" title="Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]" accesskey="g"><span>Wikidata item</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-column-end"> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-appearance" class="vector-appearance vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-appearance-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="appearance-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-appearance" data-pinned-container-id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Public service counter in a library</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable selfref">For the Wikipedia reference desk, see <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk" title="Wikipedia:Reference desk">Wikipedia:Reference desk</a>.</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_footnotes_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-style ambox-More_footnotes_needed" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/60px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/80px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="48" data-file-height="48" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This article includes a list of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#General_references" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">general references</a>, but <b>it lacks sufficient corresponding <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Inline_citations" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">inline citations</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help to <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Reliability" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Reliability">improve</a> this article by <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:When_to_cite" title="Wikipedia:When to cite">introducing</a> more precise citations.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">August 2014</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Historylink_Ballardlib03.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Historylink_Ballardlib03.JPG/220px-Historylink_Ballardlib03.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="162" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Historylink_Ballardlib03.JPG 1.5x" data-file-width="260" data-file-height="191" /></a><figcaption>Librarian, <a href="/wiki/Ballard_Carnegie_Library" title="Ballard Carnegie Library">Ballard Carnegie Library</a>, <a href="/wiki/Seattle" title="Seattle">Seattle</a>, Washington <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1907</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The <b>reference desk</b> or <b>information desk</b> of a <a href="/wiki/Library" title="Library">library</a> is a public service counter where professional <a href="/wiki/Librarian" title="Librarian">librarians</a> provide library users with direction to library materials, advice on library collections and services, and expertise on multiple kinds of information from multiple sources.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Purpose_and_usage">Purpose and usage</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Purpose and usage"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Library users can consult the staff at the reference desk for help in finding information. Using a structured <a href="/wiki/Reference_interview" title="Reference interview">reference interview</a>, the librarian works with the library user to clarify their needs and determine what information sources will fill them.<sup id="cite_ref-reference_desk_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reference_desk-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-BLS_Librarians_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BLS_Librarians-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> To borrow a medical analogy, reference librarians diagnose and treat information deficiencies. </p><p>The ultimate help provided may consist of reading material in the form of a <a href="/wiki/Book" title="Book">book</a> or <a href="/wiki/Academic_journal" title="Academic journal">journal</a> article, instruction in the use of specific searchable information resources such as the library's online <a href="/wiki/Library_catalog" title="Library catalog">catalog</a> or subscription <a href="/wiki/Bibliographic_database" title="Bibliographic database">bibliographic/full text databases</a>, or simply factual information drawn from the library's print or online <a href="/wiki/Reference_work" title="Reference work">reference collection</a>. Information is also provided to patrons through electronic resources.<sup id="cite_ref-BLS_Librarians_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BLS_Librarians-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Typically, a reference desk can be consulted either in person, by telephone, through email or online chat, although a library user may be asked to come to the library in person for help with more involved research questions. A staffed and knowledgeable reference desk is an essential part of a library. </p><p>The services that are provided at a reference desk may vary depending on the type of library, its purpose, its resources, and its staff. The services of <a href="/wiki/Library_circulation" title="Library circulation">circulation</a> and reference desks are also sometimes combined. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Reference services did not become commonplace in libraries until the late 1800s. These services initially began in public libraries.<sup id="cite_ref-Evolution_of_Library_Reference_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Evolution_of_Library_Reference-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At first librarians were hesitant to offer reference services because many libraries did not have a large enough staff to provide the services without other duties being neglected.<sup id="cite_ref-Evolution_of_Library_Reference_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Evolution_of_Library_Reference-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Beginning in 1883 with the <a href="/wiki/Boston_Public_Library" title="Boston Public Library">Boston Public Library</a>, libraries began to hire librarians whose primary duty was to provide reference services.<sup id="cite_ref-Evolution_of_Library_Reference_4-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Evolution_of_Library_Reference-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>One of the earliest proponents of references services was <a href="/wiki/Samuel_Swett_Green" title="Samuel Swett Green">Samuel Swett Green</a>. He wrote an article titled "Personal Relations Between Librarians and Readers" which had a large impact on the future of reference services.<sup id="cite_ref-Evolution_of_Library_Reference_4-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Evolution_of_Library_Reference-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Utor (2008) defined reference services as a direct personal assistance to readers seeking information through direct contact between the reference librarian and the user. </p><p>Reference desks changed dramatically with the emergence of <a href="/wiki/Information_technology" title="Information technology">information technology</a>. During the 2020 pandemic, there was a surge of virtual information desks. It has been found that chat, email, and web conferencing formats have become adequate substitutions for in-person conversations.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> AI chatbots are also being used in academic libraries to address typical information inquiries, although their use is still being tested<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Resources">Resources</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Resources"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Resources that are often kept at a library reference desk may include: </p> <ul><li>A computer with internet access. Librarians use both the public web and subscription databases to find and evaluate information and research sources.</li> <li>A small collection of <a href="/wiki/Reference_work" title="Reference work">reference books</a> (called <i>ready reference</i>) that are most often used, so that the librarians can reach them quickly, especially when they are on the phone, and so that the books will be returned in time for someone else to use later the same day. The library's full reference collection is usually nearby as well.</li> <li>Newspaper clipping files and other rare or restricted items that must be returned to the reference desk.</li> <li>Index cards with the answers to frequently asked questions, and/or drawers with folders of pamphlets and photocopies of pages that, from previous experience, were difficult to find. These enable librarians to find such information quickly without leaving the desk—even faster than they could look it up in a reference book or using the Internet.</li> <li>Books and other items that are being held for library users who asked the librarian by phone to set them aside for them to pick up later the same day, or within the next few days.</li> <li>Books from the circulating collection that have been set aside for students working on a special assignment, and are temporarily designated to be used only within the library until the project is due.</li> <li>Printed lists of items in the library that are not in the catalogue, such as newspapers, school yearbooks, old telephone directories, college course catalogues, and local history sources.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Services">Services</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Services"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Services that are often available at a library reference desk include: </p> <ul><li>A sign-up sheet for reserving computers with Internet access, or <a href="/wiki/Word_processor" title="Word processor">word processing</a> software.</li> <li>The ability to place the book 'on hold', which prevents the person who has borrowed it from renewing it. The person who placed the 'hold' is notified when the book has been returned. (Some libraries provide this service at the <a href="/wiki/Library_circulation" title="Library circulation">circulation</a> desk.)</li> <li>The ability to request <a href="/wiki/Interlibrary_loan" title="Interlibrary loan">interlibrary loan</a> of books and other material from other branch libraries in the same library system, or from a cooperating library anywhere in the world. (Some libraries provide this service at the circulation desk.)</li> <li>The opportunity to recommend that the library purchase something for its collection that it does not have, which may be needed or of interest to other library users.</li></ul> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Librarian" title="Librarian">librarian</a> who staffs the reference desk can usually do the following by virtue of their professional training and experience: </p> <ul><li>The librarian can look up a brief, factual answer to a specific question.</li> <li>The librarian can use the catalogue to find out whether the library owns an item with a particular title or author, or that contains a short story, chapter, song, or poem with a particular title, or to compile a list of books by a particular author or on a particular subject.</li> <li>The librarian can briefly teach the user how to use the catalogue and how to use its advanced features, or recommend the proper subject words or terms that are used in the catalogue for the topic the user has in mind.</li> <li>The librarian can often take the library user directly to the shelves with books on a certain topic without using the catalogue.</li> <li>The librarian is familiar with the contents of hundreds of <a href="/wiki/Reference_work" title="Reference work">reference books</a>, and can recommend books that might contain the answer to a particular question.</li> <li>The librarian can teach the library user to use online <a href="/wiki/Database" title="Database">databases</a> such as for <a href="/wiki/Magazine" title="Magazine">magazine</a> and <a href="/wiki/Newspaper" title="Newspaper">newspaper</a> articles, and recommend words and search strategies for the topic the user has in mind.</li> <li>The librarian can recommend reliable <a href="/wiki/Website" title="Website">web sites</a>, give advice on searching the Internet for information, and evaluate the reliability of the information on web sites.</li> <li>If the library does not have information on a given topic, or if the library user wants more information, the librarian can refer the library user to another library or to an organization that can be contacted by phone or mail.</li> <li>Offer aid with devices such as tablets and e-readers. This can range from general assistance with questions on how to navigate e-reader and tablet devices to instructing classes. Questions can vary from what devices are compatible with the library's e-book platform, how to check out books, and how to read electronic books.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Staff_qualifications">Staff qualifications</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Staff qualifications"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>, those who staff library reference desks are usually required to have a <a href="/wiki/Master%27s_degree" title="Master's degree">master's degree</a> in <a href="/wiki/Library_and_information_science" title="Library and information science">library science</a><sup id="cite_ref-BLS_Librarians_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BLS_Librarians-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> from a program accredited by the <a href="/wiki/American_Library_Association" title="American Library Association">American Library Association</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-librarian_education_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-librarian_education-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, if there is a lack of qualified applicants, particularly in rural areas, a person with an <a href="/wiki/Associate_degree" title="Associate degree">associate degree</a>, a certificate in library technology, or a <a href="/wiki/Bachelor%27s_degree" title="Bachelor's degree">bachelor's degree</a> in library science may perform these duties. In many academic libraries, student assistants are used as the primary contact, sometimes at an "information desk". </p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a>, librarians at reference desks typically have master's degrees from the Sri Lankan Library Association's accredited programs. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Electronic_reference_services">Electronic reference services</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Electronic reference services"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>With the development of the Web, <a href="/wiki/Digital_Reference_Services" class="mw-redirect" title="Digital Reference Services">digital reference services</a> are beginning to take over some of the roles of the traditional reference desk in a library. There is disagreement over whether or not this development is desirable or inevitable.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Library#The_Internet" title="Library">Internet search engines and libraries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reference_scenario" title="Reference scenario">Reference scenario</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Current_awareness_service" class="mw-redirect" title="Current awareness service">Current awareness service</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFMasuchika2013" class="citation journal cs1">Masuchika, Glenn (2013-10-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02763877.2013.806236">"The Reference Desk, Points-of-Sale, and the Building of Loyalty: Applications of Customer Relationship Management Techniques to Library Marketing"</a>. <i>The Reference Librarian</i>. <b>54</b> (4): 320–331. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F02763877.2013.806236">10.1080/02763877.2013.806236</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0276-3877">0276-3877</a>. <a href="/wiki/S2CID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="S2CID (identifier)">S2CID</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:58648945">58648945</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Reference+Librarian&rft.atitle=The+Reference+Desk%2C+Points-of-Sale%2C+and+the+Building+of+Loyalty%3A+Applications+of+Customer+Relationship+Management+Techniques+to+Library+Marketing&rft.volume=54&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=320-331&rft.date=2013-10-01&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.semanticscholar.org%2FCorpusID%3A58648945%23id-name%3DS2CID&rft.issn=0276-3877&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1080%2F02763877.2013.806236&rft.aulast=Masuchika&rft.aufirst=Glenn&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1080%2F02763877.2013.806236&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReference+desk" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-reference_desk-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-reference_desk_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMiles2013" class="citation journal 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 April</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Bureau+of+Labor+Statistics&rft.atitle=Librarians%3A+Information+Experts+in+the+Information+Age&rft.aulast=Crosby&rft.aufirst=Olivia&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bls.gov%2Fcareeroutlook%2F2000%2FWinter%2Fart01.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReference+desk" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Evolution_of_Library_Reference-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Evolution_of_Library_Reference_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Evolution_of_Library_Reference_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Evolution_of_Library_Reference_4-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Evolution_of_Library_Reference_4-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDeng2014" class="citation journal cs1">Deng, Liya (September 2014). "The Evolution of Library Reference Services: From General to Special, 1876-1920s". <i>Libri: International Journal of Libraries & Information Services</i>. <b>64</b> (3): 254–262.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Libri%3A+International+Journal+of+Libraries+%26+Information+Services&rft.atitle=The+Evolution+of+Library+Reference+Services%3A+From+General+to+Special%2C+1876-1920s&rft.volume=64&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=254-262&rft.date=2014-09&rft.aulast=Deng&rft.aufirst=Liya&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReference+desk" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBuss2016" class="citation journal cs1">Buss, Stephen P. (October 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02763877.2015.1134377">"Do We Still Need Reference Services in the Age of Google and Wikipedia?"</a>. <i>The Reference Librarian</i>. <b>57</b> (4): 265–271. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F02763877.2015.1134377">10.1080/02763877.2015.1134377</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0276-3877">0276-3877</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Reference+Librarian&rft.atitle=Do+We+Still+Need+Reference+Services+in+the+Age+of+Google+and+Wikipedia%3F&rft.volume=57&rft.issue=4&rft.pages=265-271&rft.date=2016-10&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1080%2F02763877.2015.1134377&rft.issn=0276-3877&rft.aulast=Buss&rft.aufirst=Stephen+P.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tandfonline.com%2Fdoi%2Ffull%2F10.1080%2F02763877.2015.1134377&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReference+desk" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRodriguezMune2022" class="citation journal cs1">Rodriguez, Sharesly; Mune, Christina (2022-01-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-05-2022-0020">"Uncoding library chatbots: deploying a new virtual reference tool at the San Jose State University library"</a>. <i>Reference Services Review</i>. <b>50</b> (3/4): 392–405. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1108%2FRSR-05-2022-0020">10.1108/RSR-05-2022-0020</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0090-7324">0090-7324</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Reference+Services+Review&rft.atitle=Uncoding+library+chatbots%3A+deploying+a+new+virtual+reference+tool+at+the+San+Jose+State+University+library&rft.volume=50&rft.issue=3%2F4&rft.pages=392-405&rft.date=2022-01-01&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1108%2FRSR-05-2022-0020&rft.issn=0090-7324&rft.aulast=Rodriguez&rft.aufirst=Sharesly&rft.au=Mune%2C+Christina&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1108%2FRSR-05-2022-0020&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReference+desk" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-librarian_education-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-librarian_education_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.htm#tab-4">"Librarians: How to Become a Librarian"</a>. <i>Bureau of Labor Statistics</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">1 April</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Bureau+of+Labor+Statistics&rft.atitle=Librarians%3A+How+to+Become+a+Librarian&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bls.gov%2Fooh%2Feducation-training-and-library%2Flibrarians.htm%23tab-4&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReference+desk" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFCarlson" class="citation web cs1">Carlson, Scott. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070516053459/http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i33/33a03701.htm">"Are Reference Desks Dying Out? - The Chronicle of Higher Education"</a>. <i>Chronicle of Higher Education</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i33/33a03701.htm">the original</a> on 16 May 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">13 September</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Chronicle+of+Higher+Education&rft.atitle=Are+Reference+Desks+Dying+Out%3F+-+The+Chronicle+of+Higher+Education&rft.aulast=Carlson&rft.aufirst=Scott&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chronicle.com%2Fweekly%2Fv53%2Fi33%2F33a03701.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReference+desk" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Reference_desk&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg/40px-Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="33" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg/60px-Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg/80px-Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="626" data-file-height="512" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikiversity has learning resources about <i><b><a href="https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Reference_Service_In_Library" class="extiw" title="v:Reference Service In Library">Reference Service In Library</a></b></i></div></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1235681985"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237033735"><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg/40px-Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="33" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg/60px-Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg/80px-Wikiversity_logo_2017.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="626" data-file-height="512" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikiversity has learning resources about <i><b><a href="https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Special:Search/Reference_desk" class="extiw" title="v:Special:Search/Reference desk">Reference desk</a></b></i></div></div> </div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ucla245.pbwiki.com/">UCLA DIS 245 "Info Access" Wiki on Reference Services, edited by John V. Richardson Jr. and Debbie Weismann</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.cilip.org.uk/publications/updatemagazine/archive/archive2005/june/chan.htm">24 Hour Reference Service article by Ben Chan</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.michaellorenzen.com/eric/digital-reference.html">Trends and Issues in Digital Reference Services</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100715132456/http://www.michaellorenzen.com/eric/digital-reference.html">Archived</a> 2010-07-15 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.michaellorenzen.com/eric/reference-services.html">Building and Maintaining Digital Reference Services</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100619111049/http://www.michaellorenzen.com/eric/reference-services.html">Archived</a> 2010-06-19 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.michaellorenzen.com/mbwa.html">Management by Wandering Around: Reference Rovering and Quality Reference Service</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080918211642/http://www.michaellorenzen.com/mbwa.html">Archived</a> 2008-09-18 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/index.cfm">Reference and User Services Association Guidelines</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110115081329/http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/index.cfm">Archived</a> 2011-01-15 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/jrichardson/DIS245/personal.htm">Personal Relations Between Librarians and Readers</a> by Samuel Swett Green</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output 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style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Library" title="Library">Libraries</a> and <a href="/wiki/Library_science" class="mw-redirect" title="Library science">library science</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Category:Types_of_library" title="Category:Types of library">Types of library</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Academic_library" title="Academic library">Academic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Archive" title="Archive">Archive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_branch" title="Library branch">Branch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library#Children's_libraries" title="Library">Children's</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_library" title="Christian library">Christian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_consortium" title="Library consortium">Consortium</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Digital_library" title="Digital library">Digital</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Shadow_library" title="Shadow library">shadow</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hybrid_library" title="Hybrid library">Hybrid</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Law_library" title="Law library">Law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lending_library" title="Lending library">Lending</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_of_things" title="Library of things">Library of things</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Map_collection" title="Map collection">Map</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Medical_library" title="Medical library">Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bookmobile" title="Bookmobile">Mobile</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Music_library" title="Music library">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_library" title="National library">National</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presidential_library" title="Presidential library">Presidential</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Presidential_library_system" title="Presidential library system">U.S.</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prison_library" title="Prison library">Prison</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Private_library" title="Private library">Private</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Public_library" title="Public library">Public</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Carnegie_library" title="Carnegie library">Carnegie</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Research_library" title="Research library">Research</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/School_library" title="School library">School</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Learning_Resource_Centre" title="Learning Resource Centre">Learning Resource Centre</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Virtual_school_libraries_in_the_United_States" title="Virtual school libraries in the United States">virtual</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Special_collections" title="Special collections">Special collections</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Special_library" title="Special library">Special library</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Public_bookcase" title="Public bookcase">Street</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Subscription_library" title="Subscription library">Subscription</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tool_library" title="Tool library">Tool</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Toy_library" title="Toy library">Toy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transportation_library" title="Transportation library">Transportation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traveling_library" title="Traveling library">Traveling</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Types of <a href="/wiki/Librarian" title="Librarian">librarian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Distance_education_librarian" title="Distance education librarian">Distance education</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/E-Science_librarianship" title="E-Science librarianship">E-science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foreign,_comparative,_and_international_law_librarian" title="Foreign, comparative, and international law librarian">Law</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Music_librarianship" title="Music librarianship">Music</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ensemble_librarianship" title="Ensemble librarianship">ensemble</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Periodicals_librarian" title="Periodicals librarian">Periodicals/serials</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Teacher-librarian" title="Teacher-librarian">School</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Information_professional" title="Information professional">Information professional</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Informationist" title="Informationist">Informationist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_and_information_scientist" title="Library and information scientist">Library and information scientist</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Library_science" class="mw-redirect" title="Library science">Library science</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Five_laws_of_library_science" title="Five laws of library science">Five laws</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_and_information_science" title="Library and information science">Library and information science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Education_for_librarianship" title="Education for librarianship">Education for librarianship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_acquisitions" title="Library acquisitions">Acquisitions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Archival_science" title="Archival science">Archival science</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_assessment" title="Library assessment">Assessment</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cataloging_(library_science)" title="Cataloging (library science)">Cataloging</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Library_catalog" title="Library catalog">catalog</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Online_public_access_catalog" title="Online public access catalog">OPAC</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_circulation" title="Library circulation">Circulation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_classification" title="Library classification">Classification</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Collection_development" title="Collection development">Collection development</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Collective_collection" title="Collective collection">Collective collection</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conservation_and_restoration_of_books,_manuscripts,_documents_and_ephemera" class="mw-redirect" title="Conservation and restoration of books, manuscripts, documents and ephemera">Conservation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Discovery_system_(bibliographic_search)" title="Discovery system (bibliographic search)">Discovery system</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Electronic_resource_management" title="Electronic resource management">Electronic resource management</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Information_literacy" title="Information literacy">Information literacy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inventory_(library_and_archive)" title="Inventory (library and archive)">Inventory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Legal_deposit" title="Legal deposit">Legal deposit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_history" title="Library history">Library history</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_instruction" title="Library instruction">Library instruction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_management" title="Library management">Library management</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_publishing" title="Library publishing">Library publishing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Preservation_(library_and_archive)" title="Preservation (library and archive)">Preservation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Readers%27_advisory" title="Readers' advisory">Readers' advisory</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Reference</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Digital_reference" title="Digital reference">virtual</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roving_reference" title="Roving reference">roving</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_technical_services" title="Library technical services">Technical services</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Weeding_(library)" title="Weeding (library)">Weeding</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">History</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_libraries" title="History of libraries">History of libraries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Library_science#History" class="mw-redirect" title="Library science">History of library science</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Template:Library_nav" title="Template:Library nav">Lists</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_libraries" title="List of libraries">Libraries</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_libraries_by_country" class="mw-redirect" title="List of libraries by country">by country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_largest_libraries" title="List of largest libraries">by size</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_libraries_in_the_ancient_world" title="List of libraries in the ancient world">ancient</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_destroyed_libraries" title="List of destroyed libraries">destroyed</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_medical_libraries" title="List of medical libraries">medical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_national_and_state_libraries" title="List of national and state libraries">national</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_library_associations" title="List of library associations">Library associations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_library_science_schools" title="List of library science schools">Library schools</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_librarians" title="List of librarians">Librarians</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_female_librarians" title="List of female librarians">women</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Libraries_and_librarians_in_fiction" class="mw-redirect" title="Libraries and librarians in fiction">fictional</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_archivists" title="List of archivists">Archivists</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_female_archivists" title="List of female archivists">women</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:Libraries" title="Category:Libraries">Category:Libraries</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:Library_science" title="Category:Library science">Category:Library science</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Commons page"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/18px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/24px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span> <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Libraries" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Libraries">Commons</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="List-Class article"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/16px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/23px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Symbol_list_class.svg/31px-Symbol_list_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_library_and_information_science" title="Glossary of library and information science">Glossary</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Outline"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/10px-Global_thinking.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/15px-Global_thinking.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/21px-Global_thinking.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="130" data-file-height="200" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Outline_of_library_science" class="mw-redirect" title="Outline of library science">Outline</a></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="WikiProject"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/People_icon.svg/16px-People_icon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" 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