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Guide to Reference Community

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Guide to Reference is a public community for networking and information-sharing in support of reference services in all types of libraries. Initiated by editors of ALA's subscription database Guide to Reference, this community encourages interaction with the editorial team, by suggesting sources for inclusion, commenting on the relative merits of reference sources, or by joining the team of contributing editors. We encourage links and discussion around the sources and the service of reference.

PostWebinar for LIS Instructors: Tips for integrating Guide to Reference into your teaching

by Steven Hofmann (staff) on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 12:50pm

Thursday, December 3, 2009
3:00-4:00pm Central Time

Learn how your colleagues are effectively and efficiently integrating this valuable resource into their teaching to help provide practical job preparation. This webinar will familiarize you with the major features and benefits of Guide to Reference so you can easily incorporate the online resource into your own teaching—with free access.

PostFuture Business Reference Librarians Sought for Student Conference Travel Award

by Steven Hofmann (staff) on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 9:40am

The Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) seeks applicants for the 2010 BRASS Gale Cengage Learning Student Travel Award, a cash award to assist a current library school student with an interest in business reference librarianship with attending the upcoming 2010 ALA Annual Conference.

PostFall "Reference Interview" Online Course

by Steven Hofmann (staff) on Wed, 10/07/2009 - 3:44pm

Registration is now open for the fall session “The Reference Interview,” one of the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) online courses. More info is available at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/development/referenceinterview/index.cfm.

PostHelp Guide to Reference Better Understand the Needs of LIS Reference Instructors

by Steven Hofmann (staff) on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 12:29pm

We are surveying LIS professors who teach reference courses to better understand instruction needs and how Guide to Reference can be used most effectively in LIS programs.

Click here to take our short, six-question, survey.

This survey will remain open through the month of October. Thanks in advance for your participation.

PostFree Access to Guide to Reference for LIS Programs

by Steven Hofmann (staff) on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 12:13pm

ALA is pleased to provide free, ongoing access to LIS faculty and students for their teaching and coursework. See http://www.guidetoreference.org/DynamicContent.aspx?ctype=24 for more information.

PostRUSA Programs at 2010 ALA Annual Conference

by Steven Hofmann (staff) on Wed, 09/16/2009 - 9:18am

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) has released its list of programs scheduled for the 2010 ALA Annual Conference, June 24-29, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Go to http://rusa.ala.org/blog/2009/09/15/rusa-2010programslate-announcement/.

PostChoice on Guide to Reference: "Essential. All research libraries."

by Steven Hofmann (staff) on Thu, 09/03/2009 - 11:52am

Read the new review of Guide to Reference in the September 2009 issue of Choice, or in Choice Reviews Online at http://www.cro2.org/default.aspx?page=reviewdisplay&pid=3482077.

Post20 Best Bets for Student Researchers, 2009 (K-12 list)

by Patrick Hogan (staff) on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 10:07am

From Booklist Online

As the new school year gets under way, our annual “Best Bets” list features new titles we reviewed in the past 12 months that are targeted specifically for students from the elementary- through high-school levels. For more good bets, check out the “Encyclopedia Update” coming up in the September 15 issue.

http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=3642352

PostStarred Review in Booklist

by Steven Hofmann (staff) on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 10:40am

Excerpt from the starred review of Guide to Reference in the new issue of Booklist:

"Guide to Reference is easy to navigate and the ability to browse categories and search keywords and classification demonstrates an informed design process meant to assist LIS students learning new resources, reference librarians searching for answers, and librarians developing a collection. Essential for large public and academic libraries as well as libraries supporting LIS programs."

EventACRL OnPoint chat: Are Reference Desks Passe

by Patrick Hogan (staff) on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 9:05am

July 29, 2009: Are Reference Desks Passe?
(10:00 a.m Pacific | 11:00 a.m. Mountain | 12:00 p.m. Central | 1:00 p.m. Eastern)