Full-Time Reference with Part-Time Librarians

Authors

  • Valery King
  • Sara Christensen-Lee

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.54n1.34

Abstract

Shifting priorities in academic libraries have led to experimentation in methods of keeping a reference desk open for the users who still need in-person, immediate help while at the same time freeing up faculty librarians to pursue other pressing priorities. The Valley Library at Oregon State University has relied entirely on part-time professional librarians to cover reference desk shifts since fall 2009, relieving faculty librarians of this task. Faculty continue to provide desk backup, chat reference, and research consultation.

In 2012, the authors invited both the part-time and faculty librarians to participate in a study, using a separate survey for each group, to elicit their experiences and impressions of the model. The goal was to determine the model’s effectiveness and to identify changes that might be needed to improve it. Participants concluded that the model works well, although faculty feel they may be underinformed on important research and instruction issues brought up by students in their departments. They believe that some improvements to the referral process should be investigated. A follow-up assessment of patron satisfaction is indicated before a full picture can be developed on the success of this model.

References

Janice M. Jaguszewski, Karen Williams, <i>New Roles for New Times: Transforming Liaison Roles in Research Libraries</i> (Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries 2013)\nSteven J. Bell, '“Technology Killed the Reference Desk Librarian,”' <i>Reference Librarian</i> 48 no. 1 (March 1, 2007): 105-7 <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J120v48n99_09">http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J120v48n99_09</a>\nJulie Banks, Carl Pracht, '“Reference Desk Staffing Trends,”' <i>Reference & User Services Quarterly</i> 48 no. 1 (2008): 54-59\nKimberley L. Bugg, Rosaline Y. Odom, '“Extreme Makeover Reference Edition: Restructuring Reference Services at the Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center,”' <i>Reference Librarian</i> 50 no. 2 (March 31, 2009): 193-204 <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763870902755932">http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763870902755932</a>\nTheresa S. Arndt, '“Reference Service Without the Desk,”' <i>Reference Services Review</i> 38 no. 1 (2010): 71-80 <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00907321011020734">http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00907321011020734</a>\nCheryl Middleton, '“From an Information Commons to a Learning Commons: Twelve Years of Change and Innovation at the OSU Valley Library,”' <i>OLA Quarterly</i> 16 no. 2 (Summer 2010): 7-12 <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.1280">http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.1280</a>\nOSU Librarians have a twelve-month faculty appointment, are required to have a masters degree in library and information science, and must go through the promotion and tenure process. Part-time librarians (PTLs) are currently hired as temporary part-time employees with the required qualifications of either a master’s degree in library and information science (preferred) or a bachelor’s degree in any subject plus a minimum 1-year experience at a library information or reference desk\nDiane Zabel, '“Trends in Reference and Public Services Librarianship and the Role of RUSA Part One,”' <i>Reference & User Services Quarterly</i> 45 no. 1 (2005): 7-10\nIbid\n () Association of Research Libraries, “ARL Statistics: Service Trends in ARL Libraries, 1991–2012” (2013), \nSusan M. Ryan, '“Reference Transactions Analysis: The Cost-Effectiveness of Staffing a Traditional Academic Reference Desk,”' <i>Journal of Academic Librarianship</i> 34 no. 5 (September 2008): 389-99 <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2008.06.002">http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2008.06.002</a>\nBanks and Pracht, “Reference Desk Staffing Trends.”\nAnthony S. Chow, Rebecca A. Croxton, '“Information-Seeking Behavior and Reference Medium Preferences,”' <i>Reference & User Services Quarterly</i> 51 no. 3 (2012): 246-62 Joel Cummings, Lara Cummings, and Linda Frederiksen, “User Preferences in Reference Services: Virtual Reference and Academic Libraries,”
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12, no. 4 (September 1986): 217; Ryan, “Reference Transactions Analysis.”\nQ. (Kerry) Wu, '“Win-Win Strategy for the Employment of Reference Graduate Assistants in Academic Libraries,”' <i>Reference Services Review</i> 31 no. 2 (2003): 141-53 <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00907320310476611">http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00907320310476611</a>\nChervinko, “Temporary Employees in Academic and Research Libraries.”\nLori H. Wamsley, '“The Adventures of a Part-Time Librarian,”' <i>OLA Quarterly</i> 14 no. 3 (Fall 2008): 5-7 <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.1206">http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/1093-7374.1206</a>\nFigure 1 also shows that reference questions started to increase again in 2011. With only one year to compare, this cannot yet be identified as a trend. It may simply be due to increased university enrollment (up 8.2% in 2009–10 and 5.1% in 2010–11)\nMiddleton, “From an Information Commons to a Learning Commons.”\n\nWamsley, “The Adventures of a Part-Time Librarian.”\n

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Published

2014-09-25

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