Reference Services Review

Purpose This study examines the effects of an Information-Based Writing Portfolio Assessment (IbWPA) on undergraduate students’ information literacy (IL) self-efficacy and explores how writing motivation shapes these outcomes. While prior studies have integrated IL instruction into writing tasks, most assessments focus on written products rather than the reasoning processes underlying students’ u…

Purpose The purpose of this study is to inform special collections and archives professionals about the perceptions and needs of a previously understudied group – members of the general public who are not already actively using archives and special collections. Survey methods are used to capture societal values and public expectations about archival outreach, processing metrics and care for cultu…

Purpose To examine the role of academic libraries in supporting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education within higher learning institutions in Tanzania, specifically through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Design/methodology/approach This research adopts an ethnographic approach, incorporating in-depth interviews and participant observation…

Purpose This research explores Ghanaian librarians' orientations to reference and information service. Orientations to practice are values, attitudes and beliefs that librarians hold about their reference and research services practice. Design/methodology/approach Q methodology, which involves a card sort and interview was used to explore the perspectives of 26 librarians from various types of li…

Purpose This study examines how well subject databases in chemistry, sociology, medicine and education cover the literature cited by scholars in the corresponding fields. This investigation illuminates both important differences in citation practices across disciplines as well as the relative usefulness of subject databases. Design/methodology/approach It takes a random sample of citations from f…

Purpose This study has two aims. First, we sought to implement a RAG-based GenAI system capable of answering reference questions. Second, we aimed to develop an evaluation protocol to assess the chatbot by means of comparing implementations that use three different LLMs. An evaluation rubric was piloted to gauge its viability as an assessment tool. Design/methodology/approach The RAG-based chatbo…

Purpose The study aimed to identify the impact of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) on reference services in university libraries. The study also aimed to reveal the challenges associated with its adoption in university libraries. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative research design was used to address the study's objectives. Data were collected from 127 professional librarian…

Purpose Field station libraries, particularly those serving biological and marine research stations, represent a unique but understudied class of special libraries. This case study investigates reference services at the remote University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) to provide a baseline assessment of how such services support the information needs related to research in ecology, geology…

Purpose This study explores the impact of digital transformation on academic libraries, focusing on university students' information discovery patterns and preferences. It investigates the interaction among Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs), electronic resources and Large Language Models (LLMs) and investigates how these tools impact resource usage and academic behavior. Design/methodology/ap…

Purpose The study investigates the role of hyper-realistic technologies in preserving Indigenous cultural heritage through digital storytelling initiatives facilitated by libraries. It focuses on how these technologies can help craft immersive narratives that authentically represent Indigenous communities. Design/methodology/approach Employing a systematic literature review (SLR), this research a…

Purpose The purpose of this review is to examine the current state-of-the-art in artificial intelligence (AI) implementations within library settings across Southeast Asia. Design/methodology/approach The study uses the AI Library Services Innovative Conceptual Framework (AI-LSICF) to evaluate the AI initiatives in Southeast Asian libraries. Sources include relevant libraries and association’s we…

Purpose The article highlights the value of adopting an experimental strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in libraries, with a specific focus on the University of Toronto (UofT) libraries as a case study. The experimental approach entails carrying out small-scale, effective, quick, and reversible experiments to increase awareness, reduce risks with adoption of incorrect, ineffective…

Purpose This paper aims to present recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy (IL). It provides an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography of publications organized thematically and detailing study populations, results and research contexts. The selected bibliography is useful to efficiently keep up with trends in library instruction for acade…

Purpose This analysis of chat reference transcripts assesses differences in how librarians and graduate assistants (GAs) incorporate teaching strategies in responding to chat reference inquiries in social sciences, health sciences, humanities, STEM and business/economics at a large, public R1 university in the United States. Design/methodology/approach Researchers with disciplinary assignments in…

Purpose This article describes an onboarding program created for liaison librarians at an academic library and details a replicable framework for effective implementation at other institutions. Design/methodology/approach This article outlines a month-long onboarding program that provides new-to-the-field and experienced librarians with support and structure as they learn the core competencies of…

Purpose This paper engages multidisciplinary perspectives on truth, authority, expertise and belief to unpack and better understand the underlying epistemology and implications of the ACRL Frame “authority is constructed and contextual.” Design/methodology/approach Following an overview of the issues confronting us in a “post-truth world,” the paper reviews critiques of the ACRL Frame “authority …

Purpose This case study explores how universal design for learning (UDL)-informed online instruction modules developed during COVID-19 can better support student information literacy outcomes. This study will also examine how hybrid learning lends itself to UDL and may resolve some of the issues within library instruction. Design/methodology/approach This case study explores how a team of librari…

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to make visible the field's propensity to center whiteness even in engaging inclusive practices in information literacy classrooms. This paper offers abolitionist pedagogy as a means to understand and address these concerns. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses interdisciplinary research methods in the fields of education, library science, feminist stud…

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to summarize the findings from focus group interviews conducted with librarians and library staff, faculty and students. It highlights the significance of implementing inclusive teaching and culturally responsive strategies in instructional settings and interactions with library patrons and seeks to emphasize the importance of developing guidelines, best pract…

Purpose Implementing peer-to-peer learning models within an academic library environment presents several benefits and challenges. This study explores the effectiveness of integrating peer-assisted learning in research services and considers the impact on those providing support and those seeking assistance. A more comprehensive understanding of peer education approaches in research support servi…