Reference & Govt Info Librarians Meeting
June 23, 2009
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
1. Mission
[Name of unit] is the University Library’s central hub for research assistance, leading patrons to the
discovery of library resources, government information, and expert help.
We extend the library’s reach to the local community and beyond, assisting users around the world and
on our campus with our unique collections and through our commitment to free and ready access to
government information.
We provide expert assistance in navigating the government information landscape. Using a wide rage of
tools, we provide assistance to researchers working in all disciplines, help people to locate difficult to
find items, and make referrals to subject specialists where appropriate.
We support the educational mission of the university by bringing an instructional approach to reference
programs and services, by fostering user independence, and the development of information literacy
skills. [This needs to be more active.]
We serve our diverse patron population indirectly by being their advocate on library technology and
service initiatives and by selecting resources in all formats that benefit a wide range of researchers.
2. Review of draft Implementation Report
This group should focus on the Public Services section. Send any revisions (suggesting specific language)
JoAnn by June 30. Those will be incorporated into the final draft that will be discussed by the original
Government Information Team on July 6. JoAnn is out of the country next week, so may not be able to
incorporate comments sent after Thursday until after she returns.
We decided to remove appendices 4-6, but the working groups will update them on the G:drive to
reflect subsequent discussion and current thinking
Everyone will send revisions, with specific language. If there are areas were there is not consensus, we
can note the differences of opinion and alternate recommendations.
There was discussion of whether to rename the desk. The unit is not the desk, the unit is a group of
people managing a set of services and transcends a single physical location. Others units, such as ESSL
does not call their desk “The Education and Social Science Reference Desk” -- it’s just the “Reference
Desk.” Information desk is a recognized brand among users and within the Library; the name has not
prevented people from asking substantive reference questions The consensus was that we should
continue to call it the “Information Desk” but can revisit the issue later, perhaps during the one-year
assessment.
There was also discussion of whether to rename 200. 200 has been opened up to house collections
from other parts of the Library (e.g. LIS, and others are anticipate). It is more welcoming and inclusive
(and less of a barrier to those considering transfers in the future) if the name that connotes that this is a
capital “L” Library space. The idea of using the unit name was set aside, as the unit is a group of people
managing a set of services and transcends a single physical location. The name above the room is
“Reading Room“ – that name could be used. At some point there may be a naming opportunity for this
room through a donor, and it will almost certainly be called the “So-and-so Reading Room” at that point,
so this would help anticipate that change.
The Voyager locations could also be changed to use the name Reading Room, with a sublocation for
SuDocs, called something like “Reading Room--Government Information” (or something similar, decided
in consultation with Mary Mallory and Jo Kibbe, who were not present for this discussion).
We need to open up the sight lines to any computers remaining in the gov info area, for security and
well as public service reasons, replacing the tall shelves on that side with lower ones. Integrating the
Dewey collection cannot precede until Stacks opens up for transfers in the 300’s, likely not until the fall,
but we should see if we can get the sight lines opened up as soon as possible.