Volume 54 | Issue 2 Article 4 9-2011 Reference Revitalization and Roving Reference: Are the Reference Desk and Print Reference Sources Passé? Tami E. Robinson Whitworth University, Spokane Bob Triplett Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach Linda Lambert Taylor University, Upland The Christian Librarian is the official publication of the Association of Christian Librarians (ACL). To learn more about ACL and its products and services please visit http://www.acl.org/ Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/tcl Recommended Citation Robinson, Tami E.; Triplett, Bob; and Lambert, Linda (2011) "Reference Revitalization and Roving Reference: Are the Reference Desk and Print Reference Sources Passé?," The Christian Librarian: Vol. 54 : Iss. 2 , Article 4. Available at: http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/tcl/vol54/iss2/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Christian Librarian by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Reference Revitalization and Roving Reference: Are the Reference Desk and Print Reference Sources Passé? Tami Echavarria Robinson Librarians who have been in the profession for declining numbers of some types of reference Coordinator of some time have surely noticed the shift in usage queries (Applegate, 2008, p. 181-182). Fewer Instructional Services patterns, particularly in the format of reference students may be coming to the reference desk, Whitworth University sources students prefer. But their professors are yet often the questions librarians encounter are Spokane, Washington not necessarily pleased with the results of this less simple and require more complex thinking Bob Triplett shift. Professors are often displeased that their and searching than Google or general multi- Learning Resources Consultant students’ work fails to demonstrate the quality subject databases will satisfy. As students struggle Palm Beach Atlantic University of research and synthesis of thought they desire at applying higher order thinking skills to West Palm Beach, Florida (Mahaffy, 2006, p. 324). While undergraduate research assignments, librarians guide students students seem to do fine using lower order in learning to evaluate and interpret scholarly Linda Lambert thinking skills such as rules and techniques to sources in the peer reviewed literature, and Instructional Services Librarian find research information, they have difficulty synthesize and apply information to generate Taylor University using higher order thinking skills, that “involve new constructs. Patrons still need help finding Upland, Indiana interpreting, synthesizing, and creatively knowledge, authoritative information, unbiased manipulating abstract concepts to generate information, and sorting out that information new constructs” (Head and Eisenberg, 2010, (Anhang and Coffman, 2002, pp. 52-53). ABSTRACT p. 37). While teaching faculty encourage more Print reference sources and in-depth and critical exploration of subject As successive generations grow up using references desks are still vital matter than Google or Wikipedia searches Wikipedia and Google web searches as parts of reference service in some provide, librarians guide students to the peer- their everyday sources of information, it is libraries, while in others innovative models such as roving reference reviewed literature to encourage them to do important for educators to teach the value of and learning commons thrive. better scholarly work. As educators, librarians’ vetted information (Myerson, 2008, pp. 16,18). While undergraduate students’ responsibility to encourage development of Librarians at Whitworth University and Taylor preferences and usage has shifted higher order thinking skills is articulated in University work deliberately with students from print to electronic, students still need to learn the application the Information Literacy Competency Standards for in an ongoing effort to disabuse them of the of metacognitive thinking skills Higher Education. The objectives encourage the notion that convenience and form is more in library research. Updating use of metacognitive thinking skills in library important than substance. Students want easily how reference is delivered to accommodate students’ emphasis research, iterating core competencies that accessible information, instantly and online. on mobility and expectation of information literate students should develop But information is not enough. Connections access to information has led to as part of a college education (Information must be made that require higher order revitalizing reference collections, reconfiguring space as learning Literacy Competency Standards, 2006). thinking skills. Students learn to apply higher commons and roving reference as order thinking skills, such as interpretation solutions at Taylor University and Students’ Changing Needs and synthesis, and acquire information literacy Palm Beach Atlantic University, skills as they grapple with scholarship. Online while Whitworth University Many libraries, including Whitworth University retains a more traditional information is fragmentary, while the usefulness configuration to meet student and Taylor University, have experienced lower of reference books and peer reviewed literature research needs. reference statistics in recent years. Data shows derives from their organization, connections, there has, in fact, been a quantitative decline of context, authoritativeness, and even style reference transactions per week on a per library (Broccoli, 2008, pp.1-2). Both are necessary basis across all institutional types. Students in today’s scholarship. Digitization has added go to the Internet as a first source for self- value to some reference books essential to help information and access electronic library library collections, but has not replaced many resources remotely from dorm rooms and other subject encyclopedias that provide valuable study areas rather than coming into the library instruction opportunities for librarians to teach for basic research needs. Teaching students to be students information literacy. While some self-sufficient information finders does result in publishers are beginning to move aggressively 58 The Christian Librarian, 54 (2) 2011 in offering high quality publications in more drastic reexamination. Other responses aggregate collections at reasonable prices, it is to changing user needs may be reconfiguring likely that publishers and librarians have not space to provide a learning commons. With moved fast enough with realistic fiscal models changing user preferences, how reference is to provide vetted more reliable information in delivered and what makes up the Reference digital format. Collection in libraries may require some reexamination. Online databases do not contain the content of high quality subject encyclopedias in a reference Taylor University’s Reference collection. As electronic resources abound Revitalization reference book usage would drop were it not for the diligent work of reference librarians What is the state of your library’s reference who connect students with these valuable collection? Have you noticed a shift in the subject encyclopedias. Some universities have number and kind of reference queries? How seen usage of subject encyclopedias drop in does your library respond to the transition from spite of librarians’ best efforts, while other print to online reference sources? In a search for universities such as Whitworth University a collection that is usable/functional what print continue to see consistent usage as librarians resources do you keep and what do you toss? guide students to these sources. “There is These might be questions considered in the past often a disconnect between the information or for consideration in the near future. Taylor sources librarians use and recommend and the University librarians observed a significant information sources researchers and students shift in students’ usage patterns, prompting use” (East, 2010, p. 163). Subject encyclopedias reexamination of the reference collection. are core to a reference collection, synthesizing and presenting knowledge in a clear, As we looked at our reference collection understandable, intelligent manner, readily the overarching assumption is that we are accessible to undergraduate students. The supporting the curriculum and the mission content of electronic encyclopedias that are of the university in the best possible way that available needs to be made more accessible, we can. It means being responsive to student while print encyclopedias continue to remain curricular needs but it also means being core resources of reference collections. Yet responsible fiscally by providing resources online resources remain the most popular with within our budget that best support what students. students need. We surveyed our students with a library satisfaction survey (LibQual+) to The Millennial generation’s preferred mode obtain user feedback. LibQual+ was useful in of communication is a drastic change from gaining student perceptions about information those of previous generations. Their emphasis resources. We were found wanting. From those on mobility and expectation of access to surveys we were able to explore what library global information 24/7 requires differences improvements our constituents (students and in delivery of service