E‐reference: incorporating electronic publications into reference
| Published date | 01 March 1999 |
| Pages | 55-62 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378839910267217 |
| Date | 01 March 1999 |
| Author | Courtney L. Young,Karen R. Diaz |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
55
As our definition of traditional reference service
expands and evolves, so do the resources we use
to provide that service. Electronic publications –
resources not in a printed format which are
accessible through the use of a computer with a
modem or CD-ROM drive – deliver informa-
tion to library users as a complementary alter-
native to printed reference collections. While
most people would define electronic publica-
tions as electronic databases, full-text journal
articles, and catalogs, a new resource is now
possible. Reference librarians themselves are
participating in the electronic publication trade
by creating Web pages and finding aids to assist
both themselves and their users to locate infor-
mation electronically on the World Wide Web.
The same Web medium that poses a new chal-
lenge for librarians offers major new tools to
give us the power to control our own situation.
The traditional environment
Decisions, decisions
The World Wide Web has created for reference
librarians a new powerful tool that is actually
many tools in one. Information that was once
only available to large libraries with budgets to
afford large collections is suddenly now avail-
able to any library with Internet connections.
Owing to community, academic, private, and
government funding, that now means virtually
every public and academic library. Questions
that once might have taken days to answer, or
might not have been at all answerable in certain
environments, now can often be managed with-
in minutes. While largely an asset, this new tool
brings new challenges to reference librarians.
Reference librarians are faced with new
choices in the realm of collection development.
Nancy Reger states “We not only need to keep
abreast of new reference content available on
databases and the Web, but we are also trying to
do some evaluative comparisons between our
print and virtual reference collections” (Reger,
1998). Publishers of quality and important
reference works increasingly are making these
available electronically. Librarians are some-
times faced with choosing one format or another.
Electronic versions are certainly more accessible
to a wider audience. Users may be able to access
electronic versions from home, when they have
never before had the opportunity to take print
E-reference:
incorporating electronic
publications into
reference
Courtney L. Young and
Karen R. Diaz
The authors
Courtney L. Young is Diversity Intern Librarian, Ohio State
University Libraries, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
E-mail: young.669@osu.edu
Karen R. Diaz is Web Librarian, at the Ohio State University
Libraries, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
E-mail: diaz.28@osu.edu
Keywords
Academic libraries, Electronic publishing, Library services,
Reference services
Abstract
The traditional work of reference librarians has been greatly
impacted by access to electronic publications on the World
Wide Web. Reference librarians are also using the Web to
create electronic publications for in-library users and Web
surfers. By creating HTML documents that provide access to
Web and other electronic resources, reference service is
extended beyond the physical library and designated refer-
ence desk hours, opening the building for 24-hour access.
Library Hi Tech
Volume 17 · Number 1 · 1999 · pp. 55–62
© MCB University Press · ISSN 0737-8831
23817ag1 13/5/99 3:21 pm Page 55
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