To administer Reference Department operations effectively and in support of the library mission.
To inform users of library resources and services.
On-call schedules for Winter Holiday and Spring Recess are determined by rotation as specified in the Personnel Manual.
During the on-call periods librarians/library service assistants do not need to remain at the Reference Desk, but will post sign directing patrons to the circulation desk and inform circulation of their where abouts throughout the day.
The scheduled librarian will not leave the area until the substitute has arrived. If this means being late for a class/meeting/appointment, the Reference Department must be notified in order to contact a substitute.
Reference Coordinator, administrative office and library service assistant must be notified of any changes in the Reference Desk schedule. Library service assistant will post weekly changes on the schedule at the Reference Desk.
When conferences draw the interest of all or most of the staff, Reference Desk hours will be filled by basing conference attendance on the following priorities:
To select and acquire materials: 1) which cover a subject generally; 2) which cover a subject studied at the departmental level; 3) which are cross-disciplinary and likely to be frequently used. These materials are generally defined as dictionaries, manuals, encyclopedias, almanacs, catalogs, handbooks, directories, yearbooks, abstracts, indexes, general bibliographies, guides to literature, etc.
Atlases can be found throughout the library. In the reference area print formats are found in the atlas cases, the general reference collection (Grange) and at the Reference Desk. Electronic versions of atlases can be found in the reference CD-ROM collection and on the Reference Web page. These collections include maps of the world, regions and countries. Subject-specific and special-use maps/atlases are also collected according to need.
Consider only major bibliographies if they cover topics studied at the department level or subject-specific works which treat subjects in demand.
Current catalogs of UW System institutions, other Wisconsin and Iowa four year colleges and vocational/technical schools are also collected.
American English general- and specific-use dictionaries in print are shelved at the Reference Desk, on dictionary stands through out the Reference area and in the general reference collection. American English dictionaries should be a mix of recent abridged and unabridged formats. Foreign language dictionaries are shelved in the general reference collection. Scope of languages covered will be as broad as possible, concentrating on the needs of this campus. Electronic formats are found on the Reference Resource web page.
Latest edition in the reference area.
Previous edition on 3rd floor.
Most recent print editions at Reference Desk.
Previous print editions in general reference and/or to circulating collection.
Recent print editions for languages represented on campus.
Previous print editions in circulating collection.
Current editions only. Up-to-date collection of Wisconsin manufacturing and services directories. Keep one run of both Wisconsin manufacturing and services directories in storage.
At least one current general encyclopedia is purchased every year in print, CD-ROM or Internet-compatible format. Additional titles will be purchased on a rotating basis. Choose from Britannica, Americana, Colliers, Compton's or Grolier's.
At least two print editions will be available in reference. Older print sets moved to storage, withdrawn at a later date. Exception: the First, Ninth and Eleventh editions of Britannica will be kept indefinitely in storage. Electronic formats are found on the Reference Resource web page.
Up-to-date statutes and codes for Platteville, Wisconsin and U.S.; Wisconsin bills for current legislative session and their indexes; subject-specific sources which support the curriculum.
General and subject-specific indexes and abstracts available in print (shelved by title) and electronically on the library online catalog, CD-ROM, and via the Internet.
The Reference Home Page will be developed with the assistance of the Library Web Team, Automation Department and division librarians to incorporate electronic resources which meet the information needs of the campus.
Reference materials are occasionally placed on Reserve due to security and access issues. Decision to place a reference title here will be made by the Reference Coordinator, Circulation Librarian and Division Librarian.
Reference materials from the active collection are placed into storage in B1A on a case-by-case basis by the Reference Coordinator. While storage is generally considered to be a temporary holding location before withdrawal, some titles are maintained there indefinitely. Reference staff will retrieve materials in storage during the day, librarians and student supervisors in the evening and weekend.
Core collection of ANSI standards is kept up-to-date. This collection supports curricular and on-site needs. Collection decisions are closely coordinated with the engineering librarian.
The ASTM set is purchased every third year. The older set is sent to Engineering.
The reference collection has traditionally numbered between 8,000-10,000 volumes excluding the storage collection. Future numbers will be affected by information needs and influence of electronic formats.
Use and content will dictate whether more than the current volume is retained in the active reference collection. Serials are generally retained in increments of one, two, five or ten years. A few titles are kept undefinedly, e.g. Statistical Abstracts of the U.S. and the World Almanac, etc. Holdings statements can be found on the online catalog.
All supplemental volumes will be retained until superseded.
Superseded materials are either: 1)withdrawn, 2) moved to circulating collection, 3) temporarily moved to storage.
Retention of index/abstract volumes is determined by use and content. Older volumes remove from active reference collection and moved to periodical storage.
The Reference Coordinator, working with the appropriate division librarian, will periodically evaluate and weed older editions of reference materials in the reference collection and in storage. All serials and continuations will also be periodically reviewed with the appropriate division librarian.
To organize and bring under bibliographic control the material acquired.
To make reference sources, services and facilities available to users, whenever possible.
Materials from this collection do not circulate. If repeated requests are registered for circulation of materials in this collection, a second copy should be recommended for the circulating collection.
As a rule, materials from this collection do not circulate. Whenever possible, patrons should be directed to suitable materials in the circulating collection. When an exception is made, however, the librarian on duty should:
As a rule, reference materials are not placed on Reserve. Occasionally, for security and/or questions of access, items may be placed on Reserve. This location will be reflected in the online catalog.
Reference materials in this collection may circulate for one week. Reference staff will retrieve requested items as circumstances allow. If circulating materials from this collection, use REFERENCE-SPECIAL CHARGE slip procedures.
To provide instruction in library use.
Often-requested subjects and topics are considered potential material for guides. Library guides include instructions, suggested materials for research on topics appropriate for undergraduate term papers and subject guides which identify the most important reference tools in a discipline. Library guides also include descriptions of materials and services available in various areas of the library and on the Internet.
For details, see the current version of "Procedure for Writing and Revising Karrmann Library Guides." (saved in reference workgroup folder)
To evaluate reference services.
To provide continuing opportunities for staff development in reference resources and in keeping staff informed of new procedures and products. Presentations or demonstrations will be provided, as needed. Workshops may be conducted on specific topics for interested faculty, staff and community residents.