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Is the reference desk used for reference interviews.

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Title: Is the reference desk used for reference interviews.
Authors: Bøyum, Idunn1 idunbo@oslomet.no, Byström, Katriina1 Katby@oslomet.no, Pharo, Nils1 Nilsp@oslomet.no
Source: Reference Services Review. 2021, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p79-93. 15p.
Subjects: Reference interviews (Library science), Academic libraries, Academic librarians, Information needs, Face-to-face communication
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate why users turn to the university library's reference desk and whether librarians make use of the opportunity to conduct reference interviews to disclose any unexpressed information needs. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents the results from a qualitative exploration study where interactions between librarians and users were observed in authentic situations at the reference desk and analyzed using a modified version of Radford and Connaway's (2013) categorization of inquiries. Findings: Most inquiries were seemingly easy to answer and pertained to collections and procedures in the library. Lending out desk supplies accounted for a high proportion of the activity. Only a small number of requests were subject-oriented and reference interview techniques were only used in 5% of the recorded inquiries. This means that the users' information needs were not probed in the vast majority of the interactions. Research limitations/implications: The study is exploratory and mirrors the activity that takes place in one specific library. The low number of reference interview techniques used may indicate a lack of interest in users' information needs, which signifies a risk of the reference desk being reduced to an arena for instrumental and superficial interaction between librarians and users. Originality/value: This study illustrates current developments in work at a physical library desk. Few recent studies address face-to-face interactions between librarians and users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Reference Services Review is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 150205228
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Is the reference desk used for reference interviews.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bøyum%2C+Idunn%22">Bøyum, Idunn</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> idunbo@oslomet.no</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Byström%2C+Katriina%22">Byström, Katriina</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> Katby@oslomet.no</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pharo%2C+Nils%22">Pharo, Nils</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> Nilsp@oslomet.no</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Reference+Services+Review%22">Reference Services Review</searchLink>. 2021, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p79-93. 15p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reference+interviews+%28Library+science%29%22">Reference interviews (Library science)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+libraries%22">Academic libraries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+librarians%22">Academic librarians</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+needs%22">Information needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Face-to-face+communication%22">Face-to-face communication</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate why users turn to the university library's reference desk and whether librarians make use of the opportunity to conduct reference interviews to disclose any unexpressed information needs. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents the results from a qualitative exploration study where interactions between librarians and users were observed in authentic situations at the reference desk and analyzed using a modified version of Radford and Connaway's (2013) categorization of inquiries. Findings: Most inquiries were seemingly easy to answer and pertained to collections and procedures in the library. Lending out desk supplies accounted for a high proportion of the activity. Only a small number of requests were subject-oriented and reference interview techniques were only used in 5% of the recorded inquiries. This means that the users' information needs were not probed in the vast majority of the interactions. Research limitations/implications: The study is exploratory and mirrors the activity that takes place in one specific library. The low number of reference interview techniques used may indicate a lack of interest in users' information needs, which signifies a risk of the reference desk being reduced to an arena for instrumental and superficial interaction between librarians and users. Originality/value: This study illustrates current developments in work at a physical library desk. Few recent studies address face-to-face interactions between librarians and users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Reference Services Review is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=150205228
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/RSR-11-2020-0066
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic libraries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic librarians
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      – SubjectFull: Information needs
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              Text: 2021
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