"It is perhaps no surprise that reference librarians need a deep knowledge of search strategies and of information sources, both those held by the library and those available freely on the Web, in order to do their job. . . . Librarians must also be knowledgeable about issues surrounding the production, organization, and use of information, including copyright and changes in scholarly publishing. And they must be experts in technology, both to support their own work and to assist patrons with technology questions. However, at its heart, reference work is distinctly human and interpersonal—it is about meeting patrons where they are to help them find information or make use of the library’s resources. This work can be deeply rewarding, and as the chapters in this text will address, it can be challenging." --Laura Saunders and Melissa A. Wong, "Chapter 1: An Introduction to Reference Services," p. 1.

Welcome to the instructor resources! Here you will find chapter-by-chapter discussion questions designed to help you lead conversations with your students and develop their understanding of the concepts discussed in Reference and Information Services: An Introduction, Seventh Edition. 

Use the links on the left-hand side to find discussions question for chapters 1-25. Be sure to also check out the activities found in the chapter text boxes throughout.