MANAGEMENT OF A REFERENCE DEPARTMENT Dr Muhammad Sajid

MANAGEMENT OF A REFERENCE DEPARTMENT Dr. Muhammad Sajid Mirza Principal Librarian, IIUI 4, 2011

Library Departments/Sections “Librarians fight a nobel battle in the name of knowledge and enlightenment” “Librarians have the power to transform not only individual lives, but entire communities”

Reference Section The Reference section of the Library houses the Library's reference books, which are those materials that are meant to aid research by providing quick and accessible information on any particular topic. These materials are usually used to find facts or provide broad overviews of topics. They should not be used as major sources for papers or other projects. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, and style guides are some of the most common reference materials found in the Library’s Reference Collection.

Management of Reference Section Human Resources Collection Print Electronic Equipments

Human Resources Reference staff in Special & Research library must possess some basic qualifications matching the area of the interest of the institution with which the library is concerned. The reference librarian appointed should be well qualified and efficient. He should possess the following qualities: He/She should be a scholar possessing encyclopedic mind, retentive memory, judgment and quick decision making. He/She should have thorough knowledge of the collection of the library especially reference sources. He/She should be well-informed and should keep himself up-to date regarding the latest developments. He/She should possess adequate knowledge of online reference sources. He/She should have adequate knowledge about the electronic sources that is e-books ejournals, e-newspapers and e-magazines.

He/She should not only be an expert in human relation work but should have good manners and sympathetic approach towards his readers. He/She have the ability to systematize knowledge. He/She should be able to understand the needs of the users. He/She must be able to search for the answers quickly and efficiently. He must have the knowledge of classification and cataloguing for easy location of material. He/She should be well informed in his own specific field of knowledge. He/She should not be bookish, but scholarly, not superficial, but informed.

Equipments The following equipment should be made available in the reference section: - (i) Reference desk, (ii) Telephone for receiving the enquires and maintaining internal exchanges with other section of the library. (iii) Vertical files for maintenances of press and clippings, pamphlets etc. (iv) Computer terminals for online search. (v) Cupboard for keeping records. (vi) Reprographic machine.

Equipments vii. Few spare titles and book-racks of small size to organize exhibitions and displays on important occasions. viii. Audio-visual equipment. ix. Card cabinets to maintain the records of different inquires, record of unanswered questions and the record of those questions the information for which was located with great difficulty and after long search. x. Stands for dictionaries and maps. xi. Separate tables for all the staff members and enough space for work. xii. Constantly required reference sources placed on Reference desk xiii. Various standard tools for selection of books, periodicals and other special material should be kept readily available.