Reference
Reference Task Force 2009 Report
Executive Summary
of
SEMLS Reference Task
Force 2009 Report
In response to decreased use and increasing
economic pressures SEMLS formed a Reference
Task Force and conducted a series of three
focus group sessions throughout the region
to evaluate current use of reference resources
in the region and project future trends in
reference support needs of members in the
fall of 2009. The data collected in those
focus groups is compiled in this report. The
appendices at the end of this report contain
individual reports from each meeting and compilations
of participants’ prioritizations of reference
services and their projections for future
services to users.
A total of 25 members attended the reference
focus groups with representatives from the
Falmouth Reference Center attending each session
and the Thomas Crane Library in Quincy attending
one of the three sessions.
A number of trends emerged from the sessions:
• The public has dramatically
changed the way it seeks information since
the legislation requiring local reference
centers was established in the 1960’s and
libraries anticipate even more change as technologies
evolve and improve.
• Libraries need to move their
resources online to meet the users where they
are currently seeking information and develop
new ways to mediate the information for users.
• The move to online resources
creates a self serve information seeking environment
creating the need for libraries to move their
assistance online using new technologies.
• Both local libraries and the
regional centers are seeing decreasing demand
for general reference service and increasing
demand for more community–based information.
• Library staff needs continuous
training to develop new ways to deliver information
and to help their users find and evaluate
online information.
Data collected in the focus groups reflects
the following use and perception of current
services.
• Specialized back up reference
is the service most identified with referral
reference service with consulting and continuing
education for members a close second.
• Boston Public Library back up
resources were identified as most valuable
to users and most effective for the member
libraries.
• Business information back up
and Mass Answers were perceived as second
most valuable to users.
• Business information back up
and specialized reference back up were considered
most effective for the member libraries.
Full report is available on the SEMLS website
at http://www.semls.org/what/reference/index.html
Full
report with appendices
Supplemental Reference RFP Fiscal Years
2011-2013
SEMLS has issued an RFP for Supplemental
Reference Service to Libraries and Residents.
The RFP covers Supplemental Reference Service
for fiscal years 2011-2013. Responses are
due by April 17, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. Libraries
interested in being considered for the service
must meet Minimum Standards for Regional Reference
and Research Centers, FY 2006-FY2008 Extended
through FY 2011.
SEMLS
RFP Document March 2009
SEMLS
RFP Appendices C and D
Questions
Received Regarding Reference RFP
SEMLS contracts with two reference centers
to provide assistance with reference questions
for all member libraries and their users.
The regional reference centers also contribute
to MassAnswers,
a chat service in which librarians answer
questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This service is available to all residents
in Massachusetts.
Member libraries can contact the reference
centers through the online
request form or by phone, fax, or e-mail.
Falmouth Public Library:
508-457-2556
888-439-8850
508-457-2559 fax
falmouthreference@falmouthpubliclibrary.org
Thomas Crane Library (Quincy):
617-376-1316
617-373-1308 fax
quref@ocln.org
|
