Librarian Life

Reference Services Plan – Academic Medical Library

Introduction:

• This reference services plan focuses on introducing a real-time virtual reference librarian within an academic medical library. People are turning to the internet now more than ever to find their information, and in-person reference desk help is on the decline (Jane & McMillan, 2003, p.240). The library acknowledged there was a need to have a reference librarian available to answer real-time inquiries from patrons, via the internet. Web forms and email contacts have already been supplied to the patrons for anonymous inquiries, but due to the number of inquiries and when they are received; the patron mostly likely will not receive immediate feedback. With the implementation of a real-time virtual reference librarian, patrons will have more thorough reference interviews at the time they need information.

The Library:

• The reference service plan to introduce a real-time virtual reference librarian will be implemented in an academic medical library. An example of an academic medical library would be A.T. Still Memorial Library located in Kirksville, Missouri.

The Audience:

• The target audience for this service would include physicians, medical students, patients, and the general public. It will focus on the patrons information needs of medical related material, where the patron must have immediate response through a virtual reference service.

Service Plan:

Research

• The library must learn about virtual reference services through research, especially to see if other libraries had success using a real-time reference librarian, via the internet.
• After the research is completed, the idea should be introduced to the medical library staff who may work in the area of this new virtual reference service.

Software

• Software should be found, tested, and documented through the information technology (IT) department. In the study found, the library used the software “RAKIM” supplied by Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (Jane & McMillan, 2003, p. 241).

Policy/Link to Service/Naming Service

• Policies and procedures for the virtual reference service will be written along with staff training manuals.
• The new reference service will need to be linked to the home page of the medical library, so patrons can easily find the service.
• A name must be established for the service (“LiveHelp”), so patrons will know where to look on the home page when searching for this real-time reference service.

Staff

• A medical library staff member will need to be assigned to run the development of this project.
• Staff will meet to learn the policies and procedures for the virtual reference service. Also, all staff members will be supplied with the staff training manuals where yearly assessments will be studied through data collection.
• Staff will conduct a trial run over a period of time to determine if those in the trial will find the service enthusiastic and beneficial.

Marketing

• The medical library will advertise the service
  • The reference service will be publicized through fliers placed around campus, the multiple libraries, and on the school’s main library’s page.
  • Bookmarks with the reference service information on them available throughout campus.
  • An article placed in the university newspaper, as well as in the local paper.
• Hours will be established for the reference service. Ideally this real-time reference service will be available during the hours the medical library is open. For example, A.T. Still University Memorial Library is open from 7:00 A.M. until Midnight.

Measurable and Desirable Outcomes

• The measurable outcomes would be determined by the use of patron surveys. They will discover if the service is successful and useful for the medical library patrons. Data can be collected from the stored electronic interactions to discern the kinds of questions being asked and how best to improve the overall service. (Privacy will be kept by eliminating names, even though this is supposed to be an anonymous service).
• The desired outcomes would allow patrons to have real-time reference service through synchronous virtual sessions. The service will be valuable to patrons who are needing immediate information but are a far distance from the library. Real-time virtual services will allow patrons to connect with the medical library staff through more than a computer; they can use their smart phones and other technology devices to inquire information.  Ensuring patrons receive timely service when their reference questions arise helps position the library as an essential place for finding information. It also helps the library maintain its relevance in the medical community.

References:

Jane, C. & McMillan, D. (2003). Online in real-time? deciding whether to offer a real-time virtual reference service, The Electronic Library, 21(3) :240 – 246.

Resource

Shaw, Emily (Author) Delaporte, Yves (Author), & Marion, Carole (Illustrator). A Historical and etymological dictionary of sign language: the origin and evolution of more than 500 signs. Gallaudet University Press, 2015. 344p illus ISBN 978-1563686214, $75.00

This first edition dictionary contains a relatively comprehensive study of the history of American Sign Language (ASL). The authors, Shaw (nationally certified ASL-English interpreter and Linguist) and Delaporte (former director of research at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris) present an explanation of the origins of more than 500 ASL signs. The entries in this dictionary are organized alphabetically and includes the regional variations, origin, and langue des signes française (LSF) images of each word. This dictionary contains 1,150 illustrations of early ASL, French Sign Language and modern contemporary signs. An introductory chapter is included in this dictionary to provide a brief history of ASL from the 19th century to the present. This is a very current dictionary, and could be compared to the American Sign Language Dictionary (Collins Reference, 1998, $60.00), even though it does not contain nearly as many words or illustrations. Even though the American Sign Language Dictionary (1998) was published 18 years ago, it is a more comprehensive dictionary to completely understand ASL, that includes cross-references and more than 12,000 illustrations. A Historical and Etymological Dictionary of Sign Language (2015) is the first dictionary of its kind to incorporate illustrations from both early ASL and French Sign Language to help develop the modern etymology of ASL. While this dictionary may not be the most comprehensive regarding ASL, it would be useful to those beginning their studies of researching and learning this enriching language. Summing Up: Recommended. Public and Academic Libraries; General Readers.
~A.M. Keith, University of Kentucky
Humanities – Language and Literature

Resource

Lemish, Dafna. The Routledge International Handbook of Children, Adolescents and Media. Routledge, 2015. 526p index ISBN 978-1138849136, $55.95.

This handbook is an authoritative guide in the field of Children’s Media Studies. The topics covered in this handbook are divided into five sections: Childhoods and Constructions (9 chapters), Channels and Convergence (10 chapters), Concerns and Consequences (16 chapters), Context and Communities (9 chapters), and Collaborations and Companions (12 chapters). Each chapter is written by different authors and provides exclusive depictions of current knowledge regarding children and media in relation to local, national and global settings. This book contains two indexes at the end of the book that cover the subjects discussed in the text as well as a names index, which help the user navigate through the text easier. Other information offered within this book are policies for regulating children’s use of media and how parents can get involved, relationships between children’s on-line and off-line social circles, and how to compare gender and ethnic identities through the media. Each of the book’s five sections consists of an introduction to provide an explanation of the topics to be discussed in future chapters. This book was published one year ago and is comparable to Handbook of Children and the Media (SAGE Publications, 2011, $185.00), and is considerably cheaper with much of the same content scope. This book also includes 57 new contributions by 71 scholars in 38 countries. Being the only edition of this handbook, it would benefit those media professionals, policy makers, parents, and educators who want a more authoritative guide when researching the field of Children’s Media Studies. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. Professionals, Educators, Government Officials, and Parents; general audience.
~A.M. Keith – University of Kentucky
Social and Behavioral Sciences – Psychology

REFERENCE

Cohen, R., Barnes, J., Holland, K., Cook, C., Barone, M., & Bicknell, J. The Almanac of American Politics. 2016 Edition. Columbia Books & Information Services, 2015. 2084p index ISBN 9781938518294, $125.00

This edition of The Almanac of American Politics is a comprehensive and primary resource for understanding the American political landscape. The book is organized alphabetically by state, and further, by congressional district within each state. In-depth profiles of every governor, Senator, and House members are provided along with updated demographic information for every state and voting district. Users of this book will find analysis of the mid-term elections in 2014 and a breakdown of votes cast for the Presidential election in 2012. New to this edition are sections providing campaign finance details for candidates, including Super PACs, and an overall analysis of voter turnout. More than 60 state and congressional maps are provided as visuals to help those interested in American politics to understand how the American people vote in elections. The first edition of this book was originally published in 1972, and has been updated on a bi-annual basis to its current 2016 edition. This book includes an index that is extensive and allows users to easily locate the place or person being searched. The authors are prestigious in the area of American politics and have contributed their expertise to National Journal and Congressional Quarterly. They have also won awards such as Everett McKinley Dirksen Award and Carey McWilliams award. This book is the only one of its kind that has extensive analysis of American politics in all 50 states within one volume. This book is essential for anyone who is a politics watcher and wants the ultimate access to information about American Politics.
Summing Up: Highly Recommended. Academic and Public Libraries.
~A.M. Keith, University of Kentucky
Social & Behavioral Behaviors: U.S. Politics

REFERENCE

Fayaz, Ahmed. Encyclopedia of tropical plants: identification and cultivation of over 3,000 tropical plants. Firefly Books, 2011. 720p bibl indexes ISBN 9781554074891, $75.00

This encyclopedia is the first reference guide for tropical plants and features over 3,000 species that represent the major tropical plant groups from all over the world. The plants in this book are organized in their taxonomic categories: order, family, genus, and species. This arrangement allows users to find information on specific tropical flowers and also allows for easy comparison to similar flowers, as opposed to other books on the subject arranged by alphabetical genus name. There are more than 3,000 full-color illustrations that give visuals of the tropical flowers being described and explained. This book contains a glossary and indexes that represent both common names and scientific names of plants that are both extensive and thorough. Other information presented in this book include natural habitat, blooming season, and descriptions of each plant’s parts. The author draws attention to how important cultivation is, due to many tropical plants being threatened by habitat destruction. A references section in the book supplies a bibliography of the works used to build the extensiveness of the encyclopedia. This book was published five years ago and is comparable to The Kew Tropical Plant Families Identification Handbook (Royal Botanic Gardens, 2014, $35.00), even though not as current, more expensive, and does not have each chapter written by an expert on the particular species. Being the first guide for identification of tropical plants, this book would fit well into any library botany collection and will be best used by those who are plant enthusiasts or those lacking valuable information on tropical plants. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. Researchers, professionals, and general readers.
~A.M. Keith, University of Kentucky
Interdisciplinary – Food and Agriculture