Reference Excellence
Reference Excellence is a self-paced reference and information services training course.
The course was designed to help public libraries provide reference and information service training to their staff, without individual libraries having to develop their own courses.
Public library staff from across NSW have contributed to the development and maintenance of this training, especially the Reference and Information Services Working Group.
There are thirteen modules. Each module focuses on a different aspect of reference services. The topics covered are:
- Module 1 Overview of the reference process
- Module 2 Reference interview skills and question types
- Module 3 People skills, reference behaviours
- Module 4 Search strategies
- Module 5 Reference resources
- Module 6 Ethics and legislation
- Module 7 Roving reference
- Module 8 Local studies
- Module 9 Family history
- Module 10 Children
- Module 11 Young adults
- Module 12 Corporate library services
- Module 13 Technology reference services
Participants work through the content and exercises for each module at their own pace. The course is recommended for new library staff, and can also be used as refresher training.
Online discussion groups
To support public library staff doing the Reference Excellence course, the State Library is providing a structured 11-month training program. Participants work through each module independently then meet online for a one-hour discussion session approximately every three weeks. Each session focuses on one module, giving participants the chance to discuss what they learned and any problems they encountered.
Participation in the program was by expression of interest. Forty public library staff are participating in Reference Excellence training and discussion groups in 2024.