Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Meeting The Patron At The Opac Crossroads: The Reference Librarian As An Online Consultant, Robert A. Aken

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

Reference librarians play an important role when users interact with online catalogs. As consultants at the point of interaction they must educate patrons in the use of the machine and demonstrate their role in finding and providing information. Specific areas of consultation are discussed as is the relationship of formal instruction to point-of-use instruction. The librarian's efficiency and filtering roles are emphasized.