DECATUR – A man called the reference desk at the Decatur Public Library. "What type of Syrian missiles were used by Hamas on the bombing attack on the Gaza strip in July?" he asked. Mary Aylmer was ...

Visitors to the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University may have noticed the recent appearance of the color red as student employees promote the value of reference desks with the slogan ...

“Can athlete’s foot catch on fire?” “Do you guys need any tutors for football?” “Do you have anything to eat?” These and other urgent academic library reference questions are answered in this final ...

For years, we’ve been hearing that traditional library reference service is dead. In reality, reference just disappeared, like Jimmy Hoffa. But unlike in the case of Hoffa, no one in the library field ...

At the University of California at Merced’s library, there is no reference desk and there never has been. The way reference services are delivered there would intrigue some and disturb others. At the ...

This new fantasy novel for young adults by Elizabeth Lowham introduces readers to Princess Aria, who sees her kingdom on the brink of war with the magic-wielding Casters. She attempts to seek peace by ...

When I first started working at the library in 1997, I used to tell people that staffing the reference desk was like playing “Jeopardy” for a salary. People would call or come in and have a lot of ...

One year ago, columnist Brian Kenney wrote a piece for PW titled “Where Reference Fits in the Modern Library.” The column addressed his frustration with the gulf between reference work as he ...

The Reference Desk at Memorial Library has relocated to be closer to the Technology Training Center in the Learning Commons. A purple curve on the carpet leads visitors to the reference and research ...

“How do you undo nerve gas?” “How do you make rope out of human hair?” “Would you mind checking out this rash?” These are other burning reference questions are answered in this homage to the 7.2 ...