Here is a listing of helpful texts for library reference services.                                            

Reference Interview Essentials

Conducting the Reference Interview

by Catherin Sheldrick Ross, Kirsty Nilsen, Patricia Dewdney

This book explores, step-by-step, each aspect of an effective reference interview.  It includes the telephone interview, email reference, and IM/Chat reference in addition to the traditional in-person reference transaction.  This text also includes real-life scenarios and helpful exercises.

Intentional Interviewing and Counseling: Facilitating Client Development in a Multicultural Society

by Allen Ivey and Mary Bradford Ivey

From the counseling perspective, this text teaches microskills for conducting effective interviews.  It includes sections on listening skills and focuses on person and solution-centered interviews.

The Reference Interview as a Creative Art

by Elaine Jennerich and Edward Jennerich

"This book shows librarians how to combine creativity with professional expertise to produce the happiest of results-a satisfied patron."

Digital Reference Resources

The Virtual Reference Librarian's Handbook

by Anne Grodzin Lipow

If you are looking for a "how-to" book for developing a virtual reference service, this text will give you the basics, plus tips for conducting the reference interview with this kind of technology.

Digital Reference Services

by Bill Katz

Covers basic priciples, chat services, implementing academic and public library digital reference programs.

The Kovacs Guide to Electronic Library Collection Development

by Diane Kovacs and Kara Robinson

" Based on Kovacs' Building Electronic Library Collections (2000), this well-organized guide goes into detail about selecting Web resources for major subject areas."

Reference Texts and Resources

NY Public Library Desk Reference

Great general ready-reference text covering a broad range of subject matter.

World Almanac and Book of Facts

"With a 140-year tradition of editorial accuracy, The World Almanac and Book of Facts contains hundreds of thousands of facts from only the most reliable sources, and each year features topical articles by well known figures such as Coretta Scott King, Wendy Wasserstein, and Mr. Fred Rodgers."

The Knowledge Book: Everything You Need To Know To Get by in the 21st Century

from National Geographic

"The Knowledge Book distills thousands of years of humankind's most significant ideas and achievements... explains how they are linked and why they are important... and packs everything into a single, irresistibly readable volume. The richly illustrated pages burst with essential facts from all major fields of knowledge: science, technology, philosophy, art, religion, economics, and more."

Firefly's World of Facts

by Russell Ash