The Reference Interview is one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy asking questions of the user that will help them to focus on the information that they really need. Often a student will approach the desk and start with, “I need books on Art Deco.” Finding this topic a bit broad and covered in many classification areas in the collection, I can then ask them questions like, “Art Deco in interior design?” “Art Deco in Fashion?” You get the idea. From there it becomes a collaborative effort, and joint adventure, in finding the appropriate resources that would best fit their particular information need.
Asking questions is tough when searching for answers — for both sides of the Reference Interview — but the results can far outweigh the consequences of not knowing.
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