The Reference-Instruction Forum is made up of any library staff who would like to stay informed regarding issues that affect reference, information, and instruction services throughout the library. The Reference/Instruction Forum distribution list in Outlook provide for easy email communication.
Monthly opportunities will exist for getting together for broader information-sharing. These are open to all library staff and will be advertised in the Library Staff Newsfeed. Topics will focus on issues related to reference and instruction. If you would like to suggest a topic, please contact a member of the Planning Group. If you are interested in joining the Planning Group, please contact Sara Manus.
Members of the Research Services Committee should submit names to the Committee chair as staff changes occur. Current membership includes:
Central
- Yvonne Boyer
- Melinda Brown (Planning Group)
- Peter Brush
- David Carpenter
- Paula Covington
- Deborah Lilton
- Larry Romans
- Ramona Romero
- Amy Stewart-Mailhiot
- Susan Widmer
Divinity
- Chris Benda
- Jill Brown
- Bill Hook
Law
- Martin Cerjan
- Stephen Jordan
- Mary Miles Prince
- William Walker
Management
- Deborah Brooks
- Sara Byrd (Planning Group)
- Rahn Huber
- Hilary Rudsenske
Music
- Sara Manus (Convener, Planning Group)
- Robert Rich
- Holling Smith-Borne
Peabody
- Leslie Foutch
- Lee Ann Lannom
- Eli Moody
- Stacy Owens
- Joell Smith-Borne
Science and Engineering
- Jon Erickson
- Machelle Keen
- Kitty Porter
- Tracy Primich
- Carlin Sappenfield
- Debra Stephens
- Rick Stringer-Hye
Special Collections
- Teresa Gray
Other
- Sue Erickson
- Julie Loder
- Dale Poulter
- Suellen Stringer-Hye
- Jacob Thornton
- Flo Wilson
Scheduled Forums:
- Basic Business Resources 12/8/2005
- Successful Reference Interview Strategies (Webcast) 2/23/2006
- Factiva Training Session 3/10/2006
- Meet and Greet (1st official forum) 4/20/2006
- Combined/separate public services desks (discussion) 6/13/2006
- QuestionPoint refresher 7/25/2006
- Making the Library a Welcoming Place through Nonverbal Cues at the Reference Desk (discussion) 9/19/2006
- encouraged people to attend the SFX/how FindIt@VU works 11/2/2006
- Show and Tell session 12/6/2006
- GIS Demo 1/18/2007
- Information Literacy initatives in the libraries; CUIL update/Peabody & HOD/Music 2/15/07: http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/central/ForumNotesFeb07.html
- Information Literacy discussion 3/8/07
- Medical Reference databases (Polly Todd, 4/12/07, 2:00 in e-classroom) Handout is available in G:\Everyone\Reference & Instruction Forum.
- Tutorials discussion 6/12/2007, 10-11
- Show & Tell 7/18/2007, 10-11
- Display of databases by subject discussion 8/8/2007, 10-11 Summary is available in G:\Everyone\Reference & Instruction Forum.
- Bibliographic Management Software, 11/1/2007, 3-4, Central Library 6th floor classroom (Chris Benda, discussion leader)
Future forum topics:
- Gartner
- Business resources (esp. related to science)
- LexisNexis
- History resources
- PsycINFO
- DB/Textworks for database maintenance
- ETDs, and other local databases
- ICPSR
- new or updated databases
- General Databases
- Health/Medicine (as related to business, education, and society)
- Facebook/Second Life
- Camtasia
- Eskind's instruction program (for staff, faculty and students)
- Public speaking tips
- Data/Statistics session w/data reference interview
- Blended Librarian experience(s)
- Reference interviewing for non-reference staff
- Voice coaching
- Consideration of Metalib/SFX
- Desk scheduling
- Databases requiring passwords (ex. SciFinder), how to handle/refer
- Reference statistics (how are we counting? Consistency across system?
- Acceptable behavior for librarians and library patrons (food, noise, gaming, computer use (paper writing vs. research use)
- Virtual reference--chat, IM
- How to do reference when people don't come into the library
- Outreach
- Providing reference for different audiences (diff methods for grads, undergrads?)
- How patrons search and ask for information and how it has changed over the years and how it will affect reference service
- How do we meet user needs and expectations (they want Google, but we know better sources)
- Using technology to help improve reference
- Models of reference - benefits/shortcomings to sit and wait, roaming, online, phone, in-person, schedule in advance, videoconferencing, etc.
- Reference trends
- Interdisciplinary reference--how do we do it?
- Referrals--AskUs, phone, etc.
- How to train support staff within your library on QP, documentation for procedures, etc. (follow-up to QP refresher forum)
- How we describe and provide access to databases via database A-Z, subject guides, Acorn, etc.
- Common reference questions at the various libraries
- Programs at VU that might concern reference
- Information Literacy in the disciplines