Education Commons^™

Ready For It? Training Library School Graduate Students To Provide Reference Services, Sandy Hervieux

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

While Master of Library and Information Science programs provide students with a space to explore many theoretical subjects, few opportunities for practical experience are offered. At a large research university in Canada, the Library has created a program to hire graduate students in Library and Information Science and train them to provide reference services. Students receive training on the reference interview, subject-specific tools, the virtual reference platform, and are expected to complete several hours of shadowing with experienced librarians. The program presents a unique occasion for students to not only receive formal training but to also benefit from informal mentorship …