This is a time of transition in academic libraries. Core functions -- like reference services, collection development, and preservation -- are being rethought and redefined as libraries move from ...

For years, we’ve been hearing that traditional library reference service is dead. In reality, reference just disappeared, like Jimmy Hoffa. But unlike in the case of Hoffa, no one in the library field ...

One year ago, columnist Brian Kenney wrote a piece for PW titled “Where Reference Fits in the Modern Library.” The column addressed his frustration with the gulf between reference work as he ...

Virtual reference services have increasingly become an integral component of academic libraries, offering researchers and students immediate, remote access to expert assistance. These services utilise ...

Fans of Prairie Home Companion radio show may be familiar with the character “Ruth Harrison, Reference Librarian.” Ruth is an old-fashioned, know-it-all kind of person. On one show, she said “I’m a ...

The fall semester may be over, but Intersession at UMass Lowell is just around the corner! Whether you’re a student or a faculty member, the UMass Lowell Library staff is ready to help answer ...