Success in Answering Reference Questions

Powell, Ronald R., Benham, Frances

ISBN 10: 0810819406 / ISBN 13: 9780810819405

Published by Scarecrow Press, 1988

About this Item

Seller Inventory # mon0000425763

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Success in Answering Reference Questions
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Publication Date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0810819406
• ISBN 13: 9780810819405
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Unobtrusive telephone studies measure reference accuracy of libraries at about 55%. The unobtrusive method typically used precludes the deveopment of information about those who are tested. This volume reports two studies of reference accuracy in which participant data were gathered and examined. Both studies were obtrusive: participants knew they were being tested. Despite this knowledge reference librarians in these studies scored in the same 55% accuracy range reported in the earlier unbotrusive telephone tests.

About the Author

France Benham (MLS, North Texas State; Ph.D., Florida State) is Associate Dean of Libraries, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She has been a library educator, reference department administrator, and reference librarian and is a member of ALA's Reference and Adult Services Committee on the Evaluation of Reference Services.

Ronald Powell is an associate professor at the University of Missouri-School of Library and Informational Science, Columbia. He has taught and published on reference materials and services, evaluation of reference services, and research methods and is co-author with Margaret Taylor of Basic Reference Sources (Scarecrow 1985).