ETL501 Reference Interview

It is clear that the reference interview is of vital importance when the librarian is assisting a user to find information. It is vital to narrow down and understand the information need of the user and direct them to relevant resources both print and digital.
It is also clear that it is easier to conduct a reference interview in person and slightly harder to conduct one over the phone.
When it comes to the digital reference interview it is clear that it is a still developing concept. Some libraries allow users to contact them using general email, others use a form on the web link 'Ask a reference librarian', others still provide real time chat and discussion in order to assist users. The digital reference is time consuming and lack the personal interaction, but is a vital tool in the digital world (including for us students wh0 are not on campus and find it harder to access library services in person).

The problem likely to face teacher librarians using the digital reference interview, especially in primary schools, is that students may not be literate or computer literate, they may not have access to the internet outside of the school setting or time inside the school setting and they may not be able to adequately express their needs in written form and it may be far easier to conduct the reference interview in person.