Student Assistants may provide answers to inquiries based on the two types of questions listed below. ALL other questions should be referred to a Librarian. If none is available, provide the individual with the appropriate Librarian trading card.
All questions will be coded for either number 1, number 2, or a referral.
Place an appropriate tic mark under the category for 1, 2, or referral to a Librarian.
Please note that these do not include questions concerning circulation transactions and accounts, or questions referred to Information Desk staff.
• Answers that require the least amount of effort;
• No specialized knowledge skills or expertise;
• No consultation of resources;
• Less than 5 minutes;
Examples
• Directional inquiries; i.e. Where is the restroom/library lab/stacks/Oliver Classroom?
• Library or service hours;
• Service point locations;
• Rudimentary machine assistance (locating/using copiers, how to print or supplying paper).
• Answers given which require more effort;
• Require only minimal specific knowledge skills or expertise;
• Answers may need nominal resource consultation.
Examples
• Call number inquiries;
• Item location;
• Minor machine & computer equipment assistance;
• General library or policy information;
• More complex machine assistance (how to save to a disk or email records, launching programs or re-booting).
*Modified from the READ Scale (Reference Effort Assessment Data) developed by Dr. Bella Gerlich