[Publib] answering reference questions without MLS

[Joshua Neff]

At my public library place fo work, our reference desk is frequently staffed
by Adult Services Library Assistants and Library Associates, who do not need
an MLS to hold the position. They answer the same reference questions the
degreed librarians do. They're generally given other responsibilities like
creating displays, doing basic weeding (pulling materials to be reviewed by
degreed librarians for deselection, or pulling materials that degreed
librarians have already tagged for deselection), assisting with programming
(and developing programs themselves), and other such duties. Some of our LAs
are helping to get our subject guide wiki set up (the degreed librarians
select the resources for the wiki, the LAs design and code the actual wiki
pages). There are some responsibilities (like collection development and
weeding) that our policy doesn't allow non-degreed librarians to do, but
beyond that, our non-degreed reference staff do much of the same things our
degreed staff do.
 

--Joshua M. Neff
Indian Creek Branch
Olathe Public Library


 

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Rhonda Konig
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 2:34 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] answering reference questions without MLS



 

Hello,

 

Do any of you have staff positions at your library in which the duties
include answering reference questions, but do not require an MLS?  If you
do, what do you call this position and what other responsibilities do these
staff members have?

 

Thank you!

 

Rhonda Konig

Reference Department Head

Wayne County Public Library

Goldsboro, NC



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