Reference and Information Services (library and museum studies)

Reference Interview: The process of establishing communication and understanding between the librarian/ information professional and the user to determine their information needs.

Types of Reference Questions: Different types of questions users may ask that can be categorized into factual, analytical, and interpretive types.

Reference Sources: Different types of reference materials like encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, atlases, directories, handbooks, etc. and how to use them effectively.

Reference Services in Specialized Libraries: Understanding the reference needs of different types of specialized libraries like law, medical, business, etc. and resources they use to serve the information needs of their users.

Information Literacy: The set of skills and knowledge required to identify, locate, retrieve, evaluate, and organize information effectively.

Reference in a Digital Environment: The use of electronic reference sources, databases and online search techniques to serve the information needs of users in the 21st century.

Collection Development: The selection, acquisition, and maintenance of materials in libraries or museums to meet the information needs of the users.

Information Ethics and Intellectual Property Rights: The ethical and legal issues that arise in the use of information and how they impact reference and information services.

Resource Sharing and Interlibrary Loan: Sharing of resources among libraries or museums to provide access to materials beyond their own collections for the benefit of users.

Outreach Services: The promotion of library or museum services to communities living outside the library/museum building to increase the visibility and usage of these services.