Reference Interview

When helping someone look for a book or other item you may need to ask several questions to find out exactly what they want.  This is called a reference interview.

For instance, a young student may come in looking for books about animals.  In order to find out what the student really wants you will need to ask several questions, such as:

  • Is this for a school assignment or for your own reading time?
  • Do you want books about made-up animals or about real animals?
  • What is your favorite animal?
  • Which animal would you like to read about today?
  • Do you want to read about one particular animal, or groups of animals like zoo animals or mammals?
Sometimes you have to ask a lot of questions before you find out what the person really wants.  But, asking the questions saves you from getting items the person doesn't really want or running around all over the library trying to find something the person wants.

You can find more hints to and tips to reference interviews by reading these:





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