Book Review: Providing Reference Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians

Providing Reference Services is number 32 in the Practical Guides for Libraries series. Beginning with a brief history of library reference service and a discussion of library stereotypes, the authors quickly move on to identifying criteria for building and maintaining a reference collection, as well as key points to consider when providing reference service, with particular emphasis on the reference interview. The authors note the need to incorporate emotional intelligence into reference work. Emotional intelligence is a topic that has recently garnered increasing interest in the business world, and it is good to see it addressed here in the context of libraries and reference services. This guide does not give detailed plans for implementing reference services but instead highlights key points and concerns to consider when developing reference services. The authors’ approach is broadly based, and the key points can be adapted by small public libraries as well large academic institutions. Each chapter ends with a helpful bibliography of sources and additional reading, and the authors also refer to another guide in the series for readers seeking more detailed help; this kind of continuity within the Practical Guides for Libraries series is useful and appreciated.