Reference Services

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Reference/Information Services

Service Description

Good reference service involves identifying a person’s information need and proceeding to fulfill it accurately, efficiently and pleasantly, using the resources available in the Library, and including referral to resources in other libraries or agencies, if necessary. It also includes providing instruction in library use.

Library Staff will assist faculty members in their information and research needs, as well as in the preparation of their syllabi:

 Faculty members will be referred to all possible sources of information for their reference and research needs and for the preparation of their syllabi;

 No class or classes shall be held inside the Library. The Library shall only cater request on the use of the Library facilities for supervised class research purposes only and faculty members shall notify the Library ahead of time before bringing/sending their classes to the Library during class hours. They should stay with their students in the Library; and

 Faculty members should inform the librarians before assigning certain readings/research topics to their students, to enable them to prepare the needed materials.

Types of Reference/Information Services Provided

The Library offers the following reference/information service:

 Operational/Directional Reference Service. Provision of information that facilitates the use of the library facilities, resources and equipment.

 Material Requests & Bibliographic Verification. Determining the availability and/or locating specific items requested by library patrons.

 Ready Reference Service. Answering factual questions, typically using basic ready available sources such as almanacs, encyclopedias, etc.

 Bibliographic Instruction/Library Orientation. Teaching how to independently use library materials/tools such as the library catalog, specialized reference sources, electronic databases and bibliographic tools.

 Reader’s Advisory. Suggesting or recommending particular titles or authors to readers based upon familiarity with the collection bibliographies, reading lists and reader’s advisory tools both in print and online.

 Technology Instruction/Online Tutorials. Teaching how to independently use online and electronic-based resources such as the Internet, the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), databases, etc.

 Research Advising/Counseling. Provision of informational assistance on how to conduct research or advising them on how to go through the research process.

 Referencing/Bibliography Making. Teaching students on how to prepare a bibliography or reference lists using standard citation tools/documentation.

 Telephone Reference Service. Answering query via phone/mobile calls.

 Online Reference Service. Answering query via e-mail, online chat, or through social networking sites.

 Referral Services. A special assistance to library patrons who wants to use the resources of other libraries by issuing library permits/referral slips.

 Photocopying Services. Photocopying machines are available in the High School Library and the Main Library. Photocopying of the whole book or issue of a journal, magazine and other library materials are discourage.

 Bibliographic Service. The library upon the request of the faculty member provides listing of books and other materials on selected areas of interest.

 Indexing Service. An index is a tool that points out where information can be found. Important articles in book and journals are indexed.

 Selective Dissemination of Information. This type of service include the following:

o Current awareness. This is an on-going dissemination of information to the faculty with regard to newly acquired books and other library materials.

o Library Reaching Out. This service is concerned with informing faculty members of books within their fields of specialization, which are available in the library. The faculty are invited to come in the library in their most convenient time in order to see for themselves the books being announced.

o Library Display/Exhibits. This service help make the library patrons aware of the materials available in the library and to promote their use. Newly acquired books are put on display for a period of time before they are shelved together with other materials in the collections.

 Service for Alumni and Visiting Researchers. Alumni and visiting researchers are allowed to use the library but they cannot take out any library material(s) for home use. Visiting researchers are required to present a referral letter from their school librarian or head of the agency where they work/studying. Alumni also present their alumni ID for identification purposes. Visiting researchers are required to pay the access/research fee. However, visiting researchers from the Recoletos and NOCEI members institutions are free of charge. For more details, see Guidelines for Visiting Researchers and Alumni.

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