Maintain and Build Reference Skills and Knowledge
Web-based (Moodle) course - Register to work -at-your-own-pace anytime
Week 1: Reference Competencies for Virtual Reference and Self-Assessment
Week 2: Analyzing Reference Questions and Developing Search Strategies
Week 3: Virtual Reference Polices, Administration, Resources and Document Deliveryet.
Without good communications skills a librarian will have a difficult time being a good reference librarian. However, without solid competence in reference skills and knowledge, a librarian is not a librarian. This reference expertise is why information seekers—all potential and current library users—will choose to use virtual reference services instead of just Googling on their own. Reference competencies involve searching, critical thinking, and information organization skills, as well as knowledge of specific reference sources and information-finding tools. Competent reference librarians are aware of the publication processes, both print and electronic, and the policies, procedures, organization, and legal environment of their specific library or library organization.
In this course participants will engage in learning activities, supported by readings as well as lecture and discussion to maintain and build on the reference competencies required by effective virtual reference librarians.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will have:
- Ability to be approachable -- to maintain and project a welcoming and enthusiastic reference service attitude through text-based communications
- Awareness of and ability to apply organizational policies relevant to any given user of a specific virtual reference service
- Detailed functional knowledge of ready-reference sources of information, such as encyclopedias, almanacs, indices, bibliographies and standard reference works in print and electronic formats
- Awareness of the best or core reference sources available in print and electronic formats, and of the range of information resources that may be used in the delivery of reference services for selected subjects and general reference
- Ability to conduct good reference interviews, to analyze reference questions using knowledge of the structures, organization, and accessibility of information in print and electronic formats
- Awareness of the need to and ability to evaluate information resources for their appropriateness in level, scope, and format for a given user
- Ability to develop effective and flexible search strategies including keyword and Boolean searching in library catalogs, licensed databases, and Web search engines
- Awareness of the scope and limitations of Web search engines
- Ability to perform advanced searches in at least one major Web search engine (e.g., Google, Ask.com, Yahoo!)
- Awareness of the scope and limitations of and the ability to use freely accessible Web reference tools (e.g., Wikipedia, IMDb, Crime Library)
- Awareness of the need and the ability to evaluate information quality of Web published information, but also to think critically about all sources of information
- Awareness of the fee-based or licensed databases accessible to both the
virtual reference librarian and any given user of virtual reference services
- Detailed functional knowledge of the fee-based or licensed databases accessible to both the virtual reference librarian and any given user of virtual reference services
- Awareness of how and where to search local holdings information for print and electronic resources
- Awareness of how and where to search the catalogs of other libraries and library organizations
- Awareness of and ability to apply the available options for appropriate information referrals
Librarians and Library paraprofessionals who want to assess and improve their reference skills for virtual reference services or for those who are training librarians and library paraprofessionals in reference skills for virtual reference services.
Some basic reference service experience is assumed. Level of instruction is beginners or for those training beginners in providing virtual reference services.
Participants should know how to use e-mail and a current standard Web Browser Firefox, Netscape 7.0, Safari or IE 5.5 or higher is preferred.
Register anytime to work-at-your-own-pace with a Web teacher through e-mail, chat and Moodle. $125.Required and Recommended Course Material:
All of the required readings for the course will be available on-line or in the text:
- The Virtual Reference Handbook: Interview and Information Delivery Techniques for the Chat and E-Mail Environments by Kovacs, Diane K. Neal-Schuman Publishers (2007) published concurrently in the United Kingdom by Facet Publishers (2007) - http://www.neal-schuman.com/db/1/571.html or http://www.facetshop.co.uk/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=626-8&Category_Code=
Diane K. Kovacs is President of Kovacs Consulting - Internet & Web Training. She has more than 15 years of experience as a Web Teacher and Consultant. Diane has been designing and teaching Web-based MLA Approved CE Courses since 2001. She also designs and teaches Web-based courses for UIUC GSLIS LEEP, ACRL, and other organizations.
The Virtual Reference Handbook: Interview and Information Delivery Techniques for the Chat and E-Mail Environments by Kovacs, Diane K. Neal-Schuman Publishers (2007) published concurrently in the United Kingdom by Facet Publishers (2007) The Kovacs Guide to Electronic Library Collection Development: Essential Core Subject Collections, Selection Criteria, and Guidelines by Kovacs, Diane K. & Robinson, Kara L. was published in 2004 by Neal-Schuman Publishers.
Genealogical Research on Web was published in 2002 . How to Find Medical Information on the Internet: A Print and Online Tutorial for the Health Care Professional and Consumer (2000) (Library Solutions Press) and Building Electronic Library Collections: The Essential Guide to Selection Criteria and Core Collections (Neal-Schuman) were both published in 2000.
Diane's first book The Internet Trainer's Guide , was published in 1995. The Internet Trainer's Total Solution Guide was published in 1997. She has also co-authored with her husband Michael Kovacs, Cybrarians Guide to Successful Internet Programs and Services which was published by Neal-Schuman in 1997.
Diane Kovacs is the 2000 recipient of the "Documents to the People" award from the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association. She was also the recipient of the Apple Corporation Library's, Internet Citizen Award for 1992 and was the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science Alumni Association's first recipient of the Leadership Award in 1996. Since 1990 she has been the editor-in-chief of the Directory of Scholarly and Professional Electronic Conferences.
Diane received an M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois in 1989 and an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology from Kent State University in 1993. She has a B.A. in Anthropology also from the University of Illinois, 1985.
