CFL Student Employee Training

You've gone through everything on the Reference Interview tab - now we're going to practice! The Mapping the Topic worksheet is found below on this page, as well as on the previous Reference Interview page.  For the purposes of your "practice assignment" we want you to assume the patron is looking for articles because we want you to learn how to use our databases.

Let Karlene know when you have completed this task. You'll visit with her and / or Meaghan about the sheet when you're done before you go on to a "live" practice with the two of them!

Nonverbal communication is a large part of the face to face interview. Make sure that you give indication of listening, such as nodding. As the videos showed, sit up, look them in the eyes, validate, and let them know you are paying attention!

Patron: "I'm looking for books on nature."

You:

• Is this for a specific class?
  • If this is for 400+ level classes, or they are a graduate student IMMEDIATELY pass to the on call or subject librarian
  • If this is for the medical school (nursing, social work, etc), they MUST be referred to the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS)
• Can you tell me more about that?
  • Anything in particular in nature or about nature that you want to know about?
    • Patron: "Gardening"
  • Are you looking for books on gardening, or something more detailed like articles?
    • Patron: "Yes, I just want books on gardening"
      • This is a good place to do the Organizing the Topic workshop FIRST before going to the computer
      • Share your screen with them
      • Show them how to use the Search Bar to enter "gardening"
      • When you find the book
        • if it's physical, write down the call number
          • Offer to go up with them if you are not alone; if there is a Materials employee, they can go up as well
          • Encourage them to browse the shelf for similar items
        • if it's online, copy the permalink, use the Access email account
          • copy the subject librarian
          • include something like "If you have any further questions, contact your <person> who is your subject librarian"  
    • Patron: "Peer reviewed articles - you know, academic things"
      • How far into the research are you?
        • Patron: "Nothing"
          • Determine which subject area this is. Gardening and mental health as a combined topic would need specification on if it's Biology or Psychology
          • Point them to the correct Research Guide, which will tell them which databases are their Best Bets
            • point out who the subject librarian guide is by showing where the contact information is on the guide.
          • Ask if they would like to speak to their subject librarian
            • If not, provide librarian's business card
        • Patron: "Some"
          • What have you retrieved so far?
          • Where have you searched?
            • Patron: "I've search the library website"
              • You: Use the Organizing the Topic sheet, Show them the Research Guides
            • Patron: "Google Scholar"
              • You: Research Guides
            • Patron: "Academic Search Ultimate" (or another of our databases)
              • You: Let me put you in touch with your subject librarian!

There is an example about "frogs" on the previous tab. This one is not as filled in as it's a basic reminder guideline:

Use the Topic Worksheet to invent a question a patron may ask. Go from very general like "dogs" to "dogs and kids" to "how dogs interact with kids" (as an idea).

Make sure you use the Topic worksheet.

• Use 3 layers of bubbles
• Follow the steps - don't jump to the computer until you help them reason out a few good keywords to start with
• THEN go to the library website.
• Make sure to record what you searched for as keywords
• include AN answer (doesn't have to be great!)

Let Karlene and Meaghan know when you are done! Bring the sheet with you to the meeting that will be set up to review.