Reference Services at Austin Public Library

Bonnie Brzozowski

Introduction and background

Library school Internships and

part-time jobs Austin Public

Library Reference Department

Reference at APL

Questions

Walk-ups, phone, email, chat, and text

Examples: In-depth research Ready reference Directional The bizarre

The wiki

Information guides and more

Information Guides Business information Legal information Job information

Referral Guide and Recommended Websites

Online Databases

Computer instruction

New Immigrants Centers

Study centers Talk Time Library tours Computer classes Multilingual

materials Adult literacy

collectionSource: The City Demographer, Department of lanning, City of Austin

Lisa Hamilton, lisa.hamilton2@austintexas.gov

Faulk Central Library, New Immigrants Center Manager

Also, Practiquemos Espanol

Readers’ advisory

APL Recommends Personal Picks Facebook RA!

Collection Development

Subject Specialist and Centralized Selector

Home economics, Computers, and Graphic Novels

Purchasing and weeding=constant action Typically spend $30,000/year

Outreach and Professional Duties at APL

Internal outreach and activities

Staff training OverDrive Database training

Committees Mayor’s Book Club Downloadables Committee (OverDrive)

External outreach

External outreach: social networks, blog, and YouTube

Social networks MySpace Facebook Twitter

APL Blog YouTube

Customer Service

The Reference Interview

If you learn nothing from this class… Observe and practice, if you can The beautiful art of communication

Questions, comments, need a new friend?

Bonnie BrzozowskiReference LibrarianAustin Public Library(512) 974-7360bonnie.brzozowski@austintexas.govhttp://www.bonniesue.net/