Reference and Information Services Section
Strategic Plan
2006-2007
Mission
The Reference and Information Services Section addresses all aspects of reference work, in all types of libraries and information service organizations, in all regions of the world with emphasis on unrestricted availability of information.
The Section aims at bridging the gap between the physical and the digital library, to promote life-long learning and information literacy in all aspects of the knowledge sharing process, and to support library and information services staff around the world with standards and guidelines for reference and information services.
Our special interests:
- User-centered reference and information services.
- Organization and staffing of reference and information services.
- Ethics of high quality service.
- Provision of high quality service.
- Impact of the digital environment on reference and information services.
- Reference collections in a digital world.
- Continuing education and training of reference and information services staff.
- Marketing/Visibility of reference and information services.
- Being an information forum on the nature of reference work in different parts of the world.
Goals
1. Promote excellence and collaboration in reference and information services.
(Professional priorities: Supporting the role of libraries in society; Providing unrestricted access to information; Promoting resource sharing; Preserving our intellectual heritage; Representing libraries in the technological marketplace).
Pillars: Profession, Members, and Society.
Actions
1.1 Examine best practices in reference and information services, their organizational framework and staffing component in countries around the world.
1.2 Investigate the impact of the digital environment on reference and information services.
1.3 Strengthen the visibility of reference and information services.
1.4 Seek partners for collaborative initiatives within IFLA and with other appropriate international, national and regional organizations.
2. Promote user-centered reference and information services.
(Professional priorities: Providing unrestricted access to information; Defending the principle of freedom of information; Promoting literacy, reading and life- long learning; Promoting standards, guidelines and best practices).
Pillars: Profession, Members.
Actions
2.1 Identify best practices of libraries and information service organizations around the world which achieve user-centered reference and information services.
2.2 Undertake a collection of regional or country reports on outstanding user-centered reference and information services, with a view to eventually making the results publicly available.
2.3 Investigate sources of funding for the promotion of reference and information services to meet specific user needs.
3. Establish quality standards for reference and information services.
(Professional priorities: Supporting the role of libraries in society; Defending the principle of freedom of information; Preserving our intellectual heritage; Developing library professionals; Promoting standards, guidelines and best practices; Representing libraries in the technological marketplace).
Pillars: Profession, and Society.
Actions
3.1 Evaluate appropriate print and digital collections and materials as resources for reference and information services.
3.2 Explore guidelines and standards pertaining to the ethics of reference and information services.
3.3 Investigate standards, guidelines or mechanisms for measuring the quality of answers to reference questions and the total quality performance of reference and information services.
4. Promote the availability of sustainable reference and information services to users worldwide.
(Professional priorities: Supporting the role of libraries in society; Defending the principle of freedom of information; Promoting literacy, reading and life- long learning; Preserving our intellectual heritage; Supporting the infrastructure of library associations; Providing unrestricted access to information; Representing libraries in the technological marketplace).
Pillars: Professions, Members, and Society.
Actions
4.1 Provide a forum for information on the nature of reference and information services worldwide.
4.2 Develop and initiate strategic and sustainable reference and information services projects in partnership with international organizations representing the needs of the developing world communities.
4.3 Translate the information brochure and other materials into as many languages as possible.
4.4 Publish the section's newsletter annually.
5. Support library and information services staff in providing high-quality services
(Professional priorities: Developing library professionals; Promoting standards, guidelines and best practices; Representing libraries in the technological marketplace).
Pillars: Profession, Members.
Actions
5.1 Emphasize the necessity of reference and information services training within the formal educational curricula provided for library and information services professionals.
5.2 Emphasize and support continuing education and professionalisation of library and information services staff by providing guidelines and toolkits.
5.3 Establish an electronic forum for discussions on reference and information services issues.
6. Membership development
(Professional priorities: Supporting the role of libraries in society; developing library professionals).
Pillars: Profession, Members, and Society.
Actions
6.1 Update the section's brochure and distribute it widely.
6.2 Inform colleagues around the world of the section's homepage.
6.3 Inform regional library associations and listservs about the section activities.
Links
