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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Franklin, Grace A.
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 1990
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED367367
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author Franklin, Grace A.
author_facet Franklin, Grace A.
Franklin, Grace A.
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents Paraprofessionals at the Reference Desk in Ohio Public Libraries. Franklin, Grace A. Library Services Library Surveys Library Technicians Occupational Information Paraprofessional Personnel Public Libraries Questionnaires Reference Services State Surveys Training Methods This paper examines the use of paraprofessionals at reference desks in a random sample of Ohio public libraries. The assumption underlying this research is that before one can address the effectiveness of reference paraprofessionals, it is necessary to understand the extent to which they are used; the tasks they perform; and the conditions associated with their use. The purpose of this research is to describe the extent to which paraprofessionals are found working at the reference desk. The second emphasis will be to explain why some libraries use reference paraprofessionals more than others by examining library size, hours of operation, workload, and nature of training. The results showed widespread use of reference paraprofessionals: they work in 85% of the libraries surveyed and provide half of the reference service in 58% of the libraries. Their tasks range from basic (directional and instructional) to complex (supervision and collection development). Analysis indicated reliance on paraprofessionals was greatest in small and medium-sized libraries. Included in the appendix is the public library reference survey. (Contains 34 references.) (JLB)
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_ED367367
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 1990
record_format eric
spellingShingle Paraprofessionals at the Reference Desk in Ohio Public Libraries.
Franklin, Grace A.
Library Services
Library Surveys
Library Technicians
Occupational Information
Paraprofessional Personnel
Public Libraries
Questionnaires
Reference Services
State Surveys
Training Methods
Paraprofessionals at the Reference Desk in Ohio Public Libraries. Franklin, Grace A. Library Services Library Surveys Library Technicians Occupational Information Paraprofessional Personnel Public Libraries Questionnaires Reference Services State Surveys Training Methods This paper examines the use of paraprofessionals at reference desks in a random sample of Ohio public libraries. The assumption underlying this research is that before one can address the effectiveness of reference paraprofessionals, it is necessary to understand the extent to which they are used; the tasks they perform; and the conditions associated with their use. The purpose of this research is to describe the extent to which paraprofessionals are found working at the reference desk. The second emphasis will be to explain why some libraries use reference paraprofessionals more than others by examining library size, hours of operation, workload, and nature of training. The results showed widespread use of reference paraprofessionals: they work in 85% of the libraries surveyed and provide half of the reference service in 58% of the libraries. Their tasks range from basic (directional and instructional) to complex (supervision and collection development). Analysis indicated reliance on paraprofessionals was greatest in small and medium-sized libraries. Included in the appendix is the public library reference survey. (Contains 34 references.) (JLB)
title Paraprofessionals at the Reference Desk in Ohio Public Libraries.
topic Library Services
Library Surveys
Library Technicians
Occupational Information
Paraprofessional Personnel
Public Libraries
Questionnaires
Reference Services
State Surveys
Training Methods
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED367367