Evaluating Information Resources in Reference Services
What makes a resource reliable? When you have the responsibility of answering important questions for your patrons, it’s crucial that you are confident in the sources you consult for those answers.
In this 90-minute session, you’ll learn the basics of evaluating a resource’s purpose and authority and how to understand the significance of different resources and varying concentrations of resources in your collection. You’ll learn the basics of incorporating this analysis into your interaction with patrons and the importance of transparency in the entire process.
After this event, participants will:
- Understand several methods of evaluation used in reference work
- Understand basic strategies for matching resources with patron needs
- Have familiarity with the specific steps needed to evaluate both print and online resources
Francisca Goldsmith has been teaching library staff development courses for both paraprofessionals and professional librarians in reference methods and best practices for over 20 years. She currently develops and delivers online courses for the Infopeople Project and for the American Library Association and has written several professional texts, including Crash Course in Contemporary Reference (Libraries Unlimited, 2016). Her library career has spanned public, school, and academic libraries, in reference departments, youth services, and collection management.
This event will be hosted in Zoom. Automatic captions will be enabled for this event. This event will be recorded, and registrants will receive access to the recording within a day after the event ends. Live attendance for this event is limited to 1,000 viewers; if you are unable to attend live, you will still receive access to the recording.
If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.