RIAs Summer Workshop 2018
Monday, August 27th
Morning
(introductions, policies, reference)
Good morning!
Let's start off with an
~ice breaker~
🍧⛸️🍨
led by Pam
What's going on this week?
Today (Monday):
- workshops 9:30am-noon
- workshops 1:15-4pm
Tomorrow (Tuesday):
- workshops 9:30am-11:30am
- library orientation practice 1-4pm
- sign up to co-facilitate 30-min sessions Wed-Fri
Wednesday: orientation sessions 9-11am + 1-4pm
Thursday: orientation sessions 1-4pm
Friday: orientation sessions 1-3pm
in half-hour blocks + might have some off-time!
will also need McCabe
R&I Desk coverage!
JUST KIDDING WE'LL DO THIS LATER
Desk Dos & Don'ts
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Be ready to answer questions coming in-person, over the phone, through chat, or in the email account (librarian@swarthmore.edu).
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Look up from your reading/homework frequently.
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Fill out the Reference Stats survey after every reference interaction, except for email and chat questions.
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Put up the “Be right back!” sign if you have to leave the desk for any reason.
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Complete any additional duties as assigned. These might include completing LC Easy (training software), creating @swatlibrary social media posts, collection development tasks, reading an article in preparation for a RIAs training workshop, etc.
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Introduce yourself to the ITS student and circulation students & staff. Kim Gormley is the Late Night Access and Lending Services Supervisor, Brigette Brown works on weekends.
Desk Dos & Don'ts
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No wearing headphones, watching videos, or listening to music at the desk. Snacks and drinks are fine, but don’t have an elaborate and stinky feast. :)
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Limit conversations with friends at the desk. Huddling around assignments and books spread across the R&I Desk will discourage students from approaching to ask a question.
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Don’t let the desktop computer go to sleep, or else you risk missing a question coming in over chat or email. (It helps to have the volume up a little bit.)
Desk Dos & Don'ts
Have to miss a shift? Email all-rias@swarthmore.edu as soon as possible to find a sub (feel free to trade shifts or simply cover for each other).
→ This Google Group includes all RIAs as well as supervisors Lorin, Sarah, and Pam.
→ Library staff will also use this list to find daytime subs.
→ All RIAs can serve as subs, even those of you whose regular desk shift begins in the spring.
To contact supervisors directly, email all three of us:
ljackso1@swarthmore.edu,selichk1@swarthmore.edu,
pharris1@swarthmore.edu,
(Lorin is the primary RIA coordinator, but it's good
to have everyone in the loop)
"REFERENCE"
Shifting gears to...
What is it?
Why is it called that?
What am I making 'reference' to?
Help!

According to the Oxford English Dictionary...
(Library) reference models
- Embedded
- Beta
- Traditional reference desk
- Tiered
- Roving
- Scheduled appointments
- Virtual
What are the pros & cons of each?
Which might work best for Swat students?
Which model(s) do we use at
McCabe / Underhill / Cornell / Trico?
What kinds of questions might be asked at the R&I desk?
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Where's the bathroom?
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Can you unjam the printer?
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Where are the B's?
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How do I set my laptop up to print on the library printers?
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Can you look up the call number of Writers on Writing: Collected Essays?
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Would you be interested in receiving some book donations?
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What's a good book on the modern Middle East?
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How do I integrate Zotero into Word?
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Can you help me find articles for topics on the culture of skateboarding as well as masculinity?
Directions & wayfinding
Needing a specific book
Assessing the quality and reliability of sources
Verifying a claim or argument
Choosing sources from overwhelming number of options
Organizing research
The "reference interview"
- "Approachability"
- Listening + empathy
- Ask good questions
- Open-ended
- Clarifying
- Follow-through (via email)
- Refer the question
- Gets easier with practice!
Let's practice. Pair up with the person next to you, and take turns asking and answering the following reference questions.
- Where is the literature?
- Do you have any books on wild turtle care?
- I'm confused about how to look at articles.
- Where can I get a print copy of the Bible to borrow?
- Where can I get a picture of my great grandmother, Elizabeth Carver, class of 1935?
Remember... people don't always ask the 'right' question to get the information they need.
(Often, it's because they are unaware of resources available!)
Referrals are key! 🔑
College history + Quaker history + genealogy
→ friends@swarthmore.edu
Stuff that we don't have in the TriCO
→ emailill@swarthmore.edu
Tripod account issues (renewals, check-outs)
→ circ@swarthmore.edu
Subject-specific questions that you can't answer
→ specific research librarians
Yesterday afternoon I returned the DVD Mad Men season 1, in the return bin at McCabe's circulation desk, but the item still shows up as checked out!
Does the Swarthmore Library have information pertaining to Buckingham Friends School in Lahaska, PA?
I just graduated and was wondering how to access the free Mango account through Swarthmore. I heard that we would have access as alumni, but Swarthmore wasn't listed as a free account provider on the site.
RIAs Summer Workshop 2018 | Monday Morning
By Swarthmore Reference
RIAs Summer Workshop 2018 | Monday Morning
RIAs Summer Workshop - August 28-29, 2017 // Intro, drupal profiles, policies, what is reference
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