Reference and Information Services: An Introduction [Hardcover]

Written as a textbook for LIS students taking reference courses, this fully updated and revised seventh edition ofReference and Information Services: An Introductionalso serves as a helpful handbook for practitioners to refamiliarize themselves with particular types and formats of sources and to refresh their knowledge on specific service topics.

The first section grounds the rest of the textbook with an overview of the foundations of reference and an introduction to the theories, values, and standards that guide reference service. The second section provides an overview of reference services and techniques for service provision, establishing a foundation of knowledge on reference service and extending ethical and social justice perspectives. The third part offers an overview of the information life cycle and dissemination of information, followed by an in-depth examination of information sources by type as well as by broad subject areas. Finally, the concluding section guides the reader through the process of developing and maintaining their own vision of reference practice.

This textbook is essential reading for all preservice and working librarians, particularly those concerned with ethical and social justice perspectives on reference work.

Melissa A. Wonghas been an online instructor for the University of Illinois, USA, since 2001, teaching courses in reference, instruction, management, and academic librarianship.

Laura Saundersis Associate Professor at Simmons University School of Library and Information Science, USA, teaching in the areas of reference, instruction, and academic libraries.

Melissa A. Wong and Laura Saunders have compiled an impactful new edition ofReference and Information Services: An Introduction. Inherited from the legacy of Richard Bopp and Linda Smith, the book's strength is its inclusivity of diverse voices-from front-line practitioners to renowned LIS scholars-as autlÓu