What are Infomation Services?

August 23-29
Information Services
During this first week of class I was unsure of what I would really learn in this course. What exactly are reference and information services? I wondered if I would have to memorize lots of categories or catalogs in order to perform reference services. The very thought of a "reference librarian" at a special desk in the library did not fit it in with the 21st century learning commons vision. My first impression was that this means your collection is very centeralized and confined within the walls of the library. What are some ways that reference services which have been such an important part of the library experience for decades can be updated for the 21st century?

The presentation of Past, Present, and Future Information services helped to answer these questions. Reference services have moved past the librarian answering questions to the patrons creating and evaluating their own information through the faciliation of the librarian's services. This change is not that different from the shift in teaching that encourages students to be actively engaged in discovering information. One important role of the library I did not think about previously was the education of immigrants and citizens through public libraries. This really made an impact on the way I view equal and free access to information as a way to support a democratic society.

Information services are the vehicles that you use to help users find and use information. Print and digital resources that allow for a wide variety of high quality information through collections, interlibrary loan, document delivery or virtual spaces are the central feature of information services. Also included are the interactions available between information specialist and users through planned or spontaneous interactions either in person or electronic means. The physical organization of the facility and resources to provide clear and easy access to information and tutorials for information literacy skills are also important.