My First Week

The Reference Desk-A Graduate Student Assistant’s Perspective

For one whole week, I’ve been working as a Graduate Student Assistant at the Undergraduate Library. This week marked the beginning of the winter semester at Wayne State University. The librarians did a great job of explaining what to expect once classes started. As the first week of classes kicked off into full gear, thoughts flooded my mind about what to expect. Apparently, questions at the Undergraduate Library range daily from directional, to brief or extended reference. Brief and extended references both involve knowledge, use or instruction of 1 or more information sources. The only difference between the two is that extended reference is an interview lasting more than three minutes. There’s much debate about how a reference desk should be staffed. For example, does an actual librarian have to be positioned at the reference desk? Or could a student or paraprofessional be trained to work the reference desk as well? My reference class, various readings and experience at the desk helped to shape my opinion.

As a student in the School of Library and Information Science I have learned much about the growing profession of librarianship. One of my favorite things that I’ve learned has to be reference. As classes started back this week, I got my first real taste of what it means to work a reference desk at an Academic library. Most of the questions that I’ve answered during the first week of class have been directional. Although, I have received some brief and extended reference questions this week. My brief reference questions included locating call numbers or books for students. While my extended reference questions included, attempting to help a patron order from MELCAT and selecting books for a student’s research paper.

Some may argue that anyone outside of the librarianship field could perform the same tasks and get the same results. I believe that a reference desk, anywhere, should be staffed with librarians who have been educationally trained to answer questions. There is no required education for telling anyone how to get to the bathroom. Patrons aren’t coming into the library looking for a specialized person in the area of bathrooms.

During the first week of class, I’ve experienced a few people walking right up to the desk and plainly asking me if I were a librarian. Then, there are those who walk up to the desk expecting a answer to whatever questions they may have. They don’t have a clue as to whether you’re a librarian or not, but they expect you to help them all the same. What I’ve noticed is the amount of trust in the eyes of the patron(s) as they watch to see how I may help him/her. Remaining relaxed and staying pleasant helps to assure them that I will help them as much as possible. One student needed help including a header for her research paper, and section breaks on the pages. Had it not been for LIS 6080, which taught me how to use Word and other Office Programs, I couldn’t have helped her. I anticipate being my best at the reference desk once I have obtained my MLIS degree, thus becoming a librarian.