38 · SPEC Kit 296
the reading room contact with a librarian varies. If the reading room staff needs to make a referral, then an
e-mail is sent to a librarian.”
“Professional staff do not staff the reference desk, but are on call and a schedule is provided to support staff
at the reference desk. On-site: patrons usually receive all the help they need by their first interaction with the
support staff. If they need additional assistance, professional staff are readily available. The level of assistance
given is depends on the patron’s needs.”
“Reception desk/reading room staff greets visitor and provides departmental orientation and registration
assistance. If reference assistance is required, a professional librarian provides it.”
“Receptionist checks patron in and answers routine reference questions. Manuscripts patrons are interviewed
and oriented. All patrons may be referred to appropriate curator(s) and a reference desk is staffed
continuously.”
“Researchers are greeted by a support staff member at an information/circulation desk. If they are returning to
use materials on reserve or have a call number for a specific book, they fill out requests for the materials. All
first-time users of archives and manuscripts receive a reference interview before they consult finding aids or fill
out an application to use original materials. Librarians perform all reference interviews.”
“Researchers interact first with the reception desk, where they register, submit belongings for storage in a
locker, and let the reception desk staff know what work they will be doing in Special Collections. Any user
not requesting printed materials is sent to the reference desk for assistance. All inquiries/questions regarding
manuscript materials, visual materials, and rare books are referred to the reference desk. Reference staff deal
with questions ranging from the need for a specific manuscript collection to in-depth research consultations.”
“Student assistant at reception desk directs patron to lockers and to reading room. Person on duty (faculty
or staff) in reading room discusses research request with patron. If necessary, the staff member most
knowledgeable in a given area is called in. Researchers are expected to do their own research, but we try to
provide a high level of service based on our knowledge of the collections.”
“The patron interacts first with the Special Collections and University Archives Information Assistant who signs
them in, instructs them on the use of the lockers, rules and regulations, etc. The patron then is interviewed
by the professional staffing the reference desk, and if more specialized reference assistance is subsequently
needed, with the appropriate curator.”
“The patrons interact first with the support’s staff who direct them to the librarian if the level of reference is
too specialized.“
“The Public Services Specialist greets researchers at the door, registers them, and handles informational
questions. He/she will call a back-up reference librarian or subject specialist if necessary.”
“The Reader Services desk serves as the main switching station for the library. It is staffed by 1.75 FTE support
staff, a manager, and one librarian. Reserves and basic reference are handled at the front desk. Unusual or in-
depth requests are handed off to a curator.”
“The reference desk fields most in-person questions. If the project is large or complicated, one of the librarians
will be brought in to discuss with the patron.”
“The user first meets a receptionist who asks them to leave coats, packages, etc., in a locker/closet and shows
the reading room contact with a librarian varies. If the reading room staff needs to make a referral, then an
e-mail is sent to a librarian.”
“Professional staff do not staff the reference desk, but are on call and a schedule is provided to support staff
at the reference desk. On-site: patrons usually receive all the help they need by their first interaction with the
support staff. If they need additional assistance, professional staff are readily available. The level of assistance
given is depends on the patron’s needs.”
“Reception desk/reading room staff greets visitor and provides departmental orientation and registration
assistance. If reference assistance is required, a professional librarian provides it.”
“Receptionist checks patron in and answers routine reference questions. Manuscripts patrons are interviewed
and oriented. All patrons may be referred to appropriate curator(s) and a reference desk is staffed
continuously.”
“Researchers are greeted by a support staff member at an information/circulation desk. If they are returning to
use materials on reserve or have a call number for a specific book, they fill out requests for the materials. All
first-time users of archives and manuscripts receive a reference interview before they consult finding aids or fill
out an application to use original materials. Librarians perform all reference interviews.”
“Researchers interact first with the reception desk, where they register, submit belongings for storage in a
locker, and let the reception desk staff know what work they will be doing in Special Collections. Any user
not requesting printed materials is sent to the reference desk for assistance. All inquiries/questions regarding
manuscript materials, visual materials, and rare books are referred to the reference desk. Reference staff deal
with questions ranging from the need for a specific manuscript collection to in-depth research consultations.”
“Student assistant at reception desk directs patron to lockers and to reading room. Person on duty (faculty
or staff) in reading room discusses research request with patron. If necessary, the staff member most
knowledgeable in a given area is called in. Researchers are expected to do their own research, but we try to
provide a high level of service based on our knowledge of the collections.”
“The patron interacts first with the Special Collections and University Archives Information Assistant who signs
them in, instructs them on the use of the lockers, rules and regulations, etc. The patron then is interviewed
by the professional staffing the reference desk, and if more specialized reference assistance is subsequently
needed, with the appropriate curator.”
“The patrons interact first with the support’s staff who direct them to the librarian if the level of reference is
too specialized.“
“The Public Services Specialist greets researchers at the door, registers them, and handles informational
questions. He/she will call a back-up reference librarian or subject specialist if necessary.”
“The Reader Services desk serves as the main switching station for the library. It is staffed by 1.75 FTE support
staff, a manager, and one librarian. Reserves and basic reference are handled at the front desk. Unusual or in-
depth requests are handed off to a curator.”
“The reference desk fields most in-person questions. If the project is large or complicated, one of the librarians
will be brought in to discuss with the patron.”
“The user first meets a receptionist who asks them to leave coats, packages, etc., in a locker/closet and shows