Introduction to Reference and Information Services in Today's School Library - by Lesley S J Farmer (Paperback)

About the Book

In Introduction to Reference and Information Services in Today's School Library, one of America's premier school library educators covers the A-Z of both reference and information services for today's library. Lesley Farmer discusses everything from teaching students how to u...

Book Synopsis

In Introduction to Reference and Information Services in Today's School Library, one of America's premier school library educators covers the A-Z of both reference and information services for today's library. Lesley Farmer discusses everything from teaching students how to use sources to both in-person and virtual reference service.

Review Quotes

Authored by the coordinator of the librarianship program at California State University Long Beach, this work is geared specifically to librarians and media specialists working in the K-12 setting, as well as children's librarians in public libraries. . . .The individual bibliographies in the chapters can be used separately in classes for future school media specialists, while the compiled bibliography for the book as a whole at the end serves as an excellent resource for future needs. The index helps readers to find specific areas of needed information as well.

Introduction to Reference and Information Services in Today's School Libraryis very suitable for courses that prepare students for work in school libraries. The writing style is very clear and students will find the book accessible. Everything a new school librarian needs to know is in this book.


This school library reference resource is a valuable tool for both current school librarians, as well as for use in school library courses. Farmer argues that the need for school librarians to assist patrons as they work to navigate through the abundance of digital content and information available to them is more crucial than ever. The author examines the reference and information services provided by school libraries in the context of the current digital and information age. School librarians are afforded with the tools and strategies to examine and assess the needs of the information seeker, in addition to helping students find and use the information they need in an efficient and effective manner.

This volume describes library reference and information services in schools in the context of the current digital age, emerging technologies, informational needs, and students. It discusses information, information seekers, and the role of school librarians in providing these services, then specific aspects: determining the school's needs, what can be provided with the existing resources, and what can be added; assessing information behaviors and techniques for researching and retrieving information from print, nonprint, and digital resources; developing resource collections, criteria for specific formats and populations, and core resources at different school levels; providing access, including arranging, cataloging, virtual access, and disability requirements; standards and strategies for conducting face-to-face and virtual reference interactions, as well as consortia and outsourced digital reference services; providing reference and information services instruction, including information literacy standards, instructional design, different modes of instruction, and embedding instruction into the curriculum; selecting and organizing services, and content and format issues; dealing with legal and ethical issues; and managing services and strategic planning.

About the Author

Lesley S. J. Farmer, professor at California State University Long Beach, coordinates the librarianship program. She earned her M.S. in library science at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and received her doctorate in adult education from Temple University. Dr. Farmer is the author of more than twenty books. She was chair of the education section of the Special Libraries Association in 2012, and was the vice president of association relations for the International Association of School Librarianship.