Article #3

Wagner, A. B. (2007). Onsite Reference and Instruction Services: Setting Up Shop Where Our Patrons Live. Reference & User Services Quarterly v. 46 no.4 p. 60-5

This article was very interesting because it helps define what a reference librarian should do now that the Internet has taken over the reference section. The author uses examples from colleges in New England and how the librarians on campus have started working proactively to get in contact with more students physically rather than virtually. Email and virtual reference is good and works well but it still will not make up for a reference interview face to face. What these colleges have decided to have is an unconsolidated reference desk and created "field librarians". Now they have librarians acting as specialists for different school departments and curricula. This way students do not have to visit the big scary centralized information desk, now they can go to their respective major's librarian and ask for help. There have been mixed results from faculty and students alike and the success of the program has been based only in some course areas. I agree this would help tremendously in certain fields. I remember many times wondering around the ASU library for hours trying to find articles on obscure objects in Anthropology. To have had a field librarian there to help me would have been invaluable and probably helped my grades a little. There were to many times that even the librarian had no clue on how to approach certain areas in my major. After the article explains about this new approach to being a reference librarian, it explains how to get this new program off the ground. First, make sure management has approved this approach and will back you in your efforts. Next, is to market yourself making as many people as possible know what you are doing and how you can help. Lastly, is to follow through and follow up with your patrons. Provide them service like they have never seen before and this will keep them coming back to the library for help. I agree with all parts of this article and think it would be a fantastic idea for all universities to offer something like this. It would really benefit the students and professors to know exactly who to contact for information regarding their courses and majors.