Reference Interview 101-Spring 2024
Reference Interview is a comprehensive six-week asynchronous course focusing on the methods of evaluating reference services, behavioral aspects of reference service, and the different types of questions that can be used to help patrons identify what they need. Using images and texts, this in-depth educational approach covers everything from the approachability of the librarian to how to follow up with the patron. Scheduled chat sessions will model interviewing techniques using sample dialogues.
Reference Interview is tailored for support staff, library technicians, newly hired reference librarians, and those librarians who want to brush up on their interview skills. The topics covered are introductory in nature. Class segments are geared to cover issues of interest to staff in all types of libraries.
Learning Outcomes:
- Module 1: Introduction
- Module 2: Reference Evaluation
- Module 3: Behavioral Guidelines
- Module 4: Approachability
- Module 5: The Reference Interview Environment
- Module 6: Questioning and Listening Techniques
- Module 7: The Reference Interview; Dialogues
- Module 8: The Reference Interview: Follow up
From Previous Course Attendees:
The Reference Interview Course really helped me improve as a future librarian. It didn't just make me better at my job technically, but it also taught me how important it is to understand and communicate well with people who come to the library. Thanks to Dave's great and easy teaching and the detailed course from the RUSA ALA, I'm now much better at helping our library visitors. I'm very thankful for this chance to learn, and I'm excited to keep using what I learned to make our library a better place for everyone.
Gaby Gomez, Seminole County Library Services (Florida)
I took Reference Interview 101 last spring and so enjoyed brushing up on this topic with Dave Tyckoson as my instructor. He made what could be a very dry topic engaging and interesting, often personalizing it, which held my interest while also reminding me of the importance of my position when answering patron’s reference questions: Making myself approachable and also to ask the proper open-ended questions to get to the real question patrons are trying to ask, but often do not know how to articulate to us. Lastly, I never felt anxiety over the quizzes or the work shared with fellow students online and had such fun when practicing what we learned with my partner as a final small project. I highly recommend this as a refresher and reminder for something that seems so basic, but has everything to do with building relationships with our patrons and their comfort in using our public library.
Lisa Gottshall, Manitowoc Public Library (Wisconsin)
The instructor, David Tyckoson has almost 40 years of experience in academic libraries. Prior to retirement, he served as the reference librarian at the Library at California State University Fresno.