Public Services in Special Collections · 37
can help the patron, she will pull the materials requested if not, she will refer the request to the Special
Collections Librarian or the Archivist/Acting Head of the department.”
“Patrons are generally greeted by student reference assistants. If the questions presented are beyond the
training of the students, a librarian is close at hand to take over the negotiations and answer the question. If
the librarian is unsure of the answer he or she will contact the curator of the collection for an answer.”
“Patrons are greeted by a support staffer who contacts an archivist who provides forms, conducts registration,
etc. Off-site requests are handled by a support staffer in consultation with the appropriate professional staff.”
“Patrons are greeted by the front desk attendant and are required to register. The front desk attendant then
calls for a subject specialist who comes to the public area to talk with the patron. All librarians have front desk
duties.”
“Patrons are served by staff at the reference desk in the main lobby. We have veteran staff in the library
who are very familiar with the twists and turns of the collections. Very capable but do not hesitate to call on
librarians when required.”
“Patrons are usually greeted by an undergraduate student assistant upon arrival. If the visit involves mediation
of inquiries that require the use of archival documents, the student will ask one of the full-time staff to meet
with the researcher in the reading room.”
“Patrons come to reference desk and usually contact a student assistant, who helps with routine questions,
like paging a book if given a call number. For more complicated questions, the patron is referred to staff with
appropriate subject/format expertise.”
“Patrons first encounter a Library Assistant IV at the reference desk. In-depth queries are referred to the
Research Services and Cataloging Librarian.”
“Patrons first interact with student assistants at department’s information desk. Simple requests for books are
often handled here. Most reference requests, however, are handled by a reference staff member in the reading
room. Patrons receive varying levels of assistance depending on the nature of their research. Some in-depth
reference assistance is initiated outside of the reading room via e-mail, phone, or in person appointments with
reference staff or collection archivists.”
“Patrons initially sign in and leave personal belongings in lockers at the entrance of the building. For those
who have never visited Special Collections, a brief overview is offered. Once they reach the reading room, they
interact with the staff member at the reference desk, who may or may not be a librarian. They are greeted and
asked how they may be helped. If it is their first visit, they will be asked to complete a registration form, and
will be introduced to the finding aids and catalog tools which will assist them in identifying materials that
will allow them to satisfy their research needs. If the staff member on duty feels unable to assist the patron, a
librarian may be asked to give additional advice regarding available sources.”
“Patrons most often contact the Special Collections office staff by phone, e-mail, or in person. The office staff
then refers the patron to the librarian most closely involved with the materials requested (e.g., manuscripts,
or rare books). The librarian then assists the patron. Depending on the patron’s mode of entry to Special
Collections (e.g., in person, e-mail, etc.), the reference interview may be one session or multiple sessions.”
“Patrons’ first contact is the front desk, which is manned by student workers, who will then send patrons to
can help the patron, she will pull the materials requested if not, she will refer the request to the Special
Collections Librarian or the Archivist/Acting Head of the department.”
“Patrons are generally greeted by student reference assistants. If the questions presented are beyond the
training of the students, a librarian is close at hand to take over the negotiations and answer the question. If
the librarian is unsure of the answer he or she will contact the curator of the collection for an answer.”
“Patrons are greeted by a support staffer who contacts an archivist who provides forms, conducts registration,
etc. Off-site requests are handled by a support staffer in consultation with the appropriate professional staff.”
“Patrons are greeted by the front desk attendant and are required to register. The front desk attendant then
calls for a subject specialist who comes to the public area to talk with the patron. All librarians have front desk
duties.”
“Patrons are served by staff at the reference desk in the main lobby. We have veteran staff in the library
who are very familiar with the twists and turns of the collections. Very capable but do not hesitate to call on
librarians when required.”
“Patrons are usually greeted by an undergraduate student assistant upon arrival. If the visit involves mediation
of inquiries that require the use of archival documents, the student will ask one of the full-time staff to meet
with the researcher in the reading room.”
“Patrons come to reference desk and usually contact a student assistant, who helps with routine questions,
like paging a book if given a call number. For more complicated questions, the patron is referred to staff with
appropriate subject/format expertise.”
“Patrons first encounter a Library Assistant IV at the reference desk. In-depth queries are referred to the
Research Services and Cataloging Librarian.”
“Patrons first interact with student assistants at department’s information desk. Simple requests for books are
often handled here. Most reference requests, however, are handled by a reference staff member in the reading
room. Patrons receive varying levels of assistance depending on the nature of their research. Some in-depth
reference assistance is initiated outside of the reading room via e-mail, phone, or in person appointments with
reference staff or collection archivists.”
“Patrons initially sign in and leave personal belongings in lockers at the entrance of the building. For those
who have never visited Special Collections, a brief overview is offered. Once they reach the reading room, they
interact with the staff member at the reference desk, who may or may not be a librarian. They are greeted and
asked how they may be helped. If it is their first visit, they will be asked to complete a registration form, and
will be introduced to the finding aids and catalog tools which will assist them in identifying materials that
will allow them to satisfy their research needs. If the staff member on duty feels unable to assist the patron, a
librarian may be asked to give additional advice regarding available sources.”
“Patrons most often contact the Special Collections office staff by phone, e-mail, or in person. The office staff
then refers the patron to the librarian most closely involved with the materials requested (e.g., manuscripts,
or rare books). The librarian then assists the patron. Depending on the patron’s mode of entry to Special
Collections (e.g., in person, e-mail, etc.), the reference interview may be one session or multiple sessions.”
“Patrons’ first contact is the front desk, which is manned by student workers, who will then send patrons to
