Training Paraprofessionals for Reference Service, 2nd Ed
A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians
By Pamela J. MorganPut your staff to greater use, and provide better reference service, too! Newly revised for the electronic environment.
ISBN: 9781555706432Published: 2009
8.5 x 11 | 205 pp. | $70.00
Using paraprofessionals to answer reference questions is a great way to expand your library’s reference reach while getting the most value out of your staff. But how do you begin training them? What training materials should be used? What skills should be taught? How important is the reference interview for paraprofessionals? What are the pros and cons of using paraprofessionals in this manner? Morgan answers these and other questions in a new edition of this bestselling book.
"...a very comprehensive training guide that may even offer some tips for the professional librarian...This timely guide would be a good choice for all librarians that use paraprofessionals to staff their reference desks. It might be especially useful for small libraries, which often do not have the resources to maintain large professional staffs."
Reference and User Services Quarterly, Vol. 49, Issue 2
Revised and updated to include basic and advanced skills using both print and electronic resources, this volume includes modules on government information, international and corporate information, statistics, medical and health information, and more. This guide will help you prepare paraprofessionals for the issues frontline library staff face on a daily basis. Once you’ve trained them, you can turn again to the book for tips and strategies on evaluation and supplemental training. If your library has catalogers, students, newly hired staff, or other staff members with untapped potential, this book is for you.
