80 REFERENCE SERVICES
who cannot handle the reading level of the material.”^2 (She also suggests that
when you are unsure of a child’s reading ability, “casually [suggest] that the
patron might read a few lines to see if the material is too hard or too easy.”)^3searching
This is an area that has been the subject of debate among children’s librarians
for some time: do you show the inquiring child how to find the information
requested or do you just provide that information? The literature includes
arguments on both sides, but it seems to me
that a hybrid approach is best. Provide the
information requested but as you are doing
so, briefly explain each of the steps taken,
for example, “I’m checking the index or cat-
alog, etc... .” or, “I’m using this database on
our library’s website, etc.” This “teachable
moment” is just one more element of the
“value-added” service a reference librarian
provides. Some of the advocates of simply
telling a child how (or where) to find what they need are operating under the
assumption that children only come in to the library for school assignments.
Anyone who has actually worked in a public library knows that this is not
always the case. Children certainly do read for “fun,” and often pursue subjects
related to hobbies or other activities like scouting, or simply because they are
curious about something. A good reference librarian does not make value
judgments on how “serious” a question is and only questions how information
will be used in order to determine the best type of material for a particular
patron of any age.Follow-up
To help reinforce the idea of the library (with the services of a reference librar-
ian) as a place to visit with any kind of question, the librarian “asks patrons
if their questions have been completely answered” (5.1) and “encourages the
patrons to return if they have further questions” (5.2). Although this is some-Chuck Ashton, “Chuck’s 10 Rules
of Children’s Reference,” The
U*N*A*B*A*S*H*E*D Librarian,
no. 92 (1994): 5. A humorous
“Top Ten List” that will ring true
for anyone who has ever worked
at the reference desk in the
children’s department.http://www.ebook3000.com