Description
- Subject Area: Reference Services
- Type: Online Course
- Length: 2 hours
- Level: library staff
- Organisers: Idaho Commission for Libraries
- Presenters: Stephanie Bailey-White & Tammy Hawleyhouse
- Format: online self-paced course
- Date: 24/4/2020
This was a short online course that took just over the two hours to complete that was all based on reference services within the library and how to successfully conduct a reference interview.
This online course was required to complete further studies with work, although it was a requirement it was a good refresher course on reference interviews.
The course covered over everything that goes into conducting a successful reference interview for the staff and customer involved. Some of the topics involved in the course were the does and don’ts of an interview, various scenarios and types of questions involved to answer a reference interview and the steps involved in completing one.
I am conducting reference enquires every day at my position within a public library, although I feel like sometimes we miss steps when answering these types of questions. This course was a good reminder about what should be going into these reference interviews for a successful and positive outcome for all.
I plan to keep in mind this refresh training on reference interviews for future questions I receive, and try particularly hard to follow up on questions because I think that is a step that often does get lost in the rush at times.
