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2003

Digital reference

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Full-Text Articles in Library and Information Science

Question Negotiation And The Technological Environment, Joseph Janes, Joanne Silverstein Feb 2003

Question Negotiation And The Technological Environment, Joseph Janes, Joanne Silverstein

School of Information Studies - Faculty Scholarship

The information world is a very different place in 2003 than it was a few years ago. It is possible, for example, to find information more quickly and easily than ever before, using new tools, and drawing on sources of information unavailable or even nonexistent not so very long ago. People seeking answers or providing them now have many more options for "question negotiation", in the broadest Tayloresque sense [1]. Consulting an information professional continues to be one of those options. In fact, such professionals can now be much more accessible via these new tools and technologies.

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Bad Moon Rising: A Candid Examination Of Digital Reference And What It Means To The Profession, Jonathan D. Lauer, Steve Mckinzie Jan 2003

Bad Moon Rising: A Candid Examination Of Digital Reference And What It Means To The Profession, Jonathan D. Lauer, Steve Mckinzie

Library Staff Presentations & Publications

The profound impact of digital reference claimed by its proponents is overstated. Librarians tend to overvalue technology, assume its intrinsic value in improving library operations and services, and undervalue the human factor of librarian expertise and professional competence. Overstating the impact of trends within librarianship is a cyclically recurring phenomenon and the hype surrounding digital reference is a current example. In most libraries, the adoption of digital reference is not likely to be cost effective nor its utility an improvement on structures already in place and functioning well. Librarians have difficult decisions to make regarding the allocation of resources. The …

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