Technology and Work: The Reference Experience

1. School of Information, University of Texas Technology and Work: The Reference Experience Tiffany LeMaistre tiffany.lemaistre@gmail.com Dr. Diane Bailey debailey@ischool.utexas.edu Lindsey Van Zandt lindseyvz@gmail.com Rebecka Embry rebeckaembry@gmail.com Daniel Acevedo daremoshirinai@gmail.com Introduction: We are conducting a study about the evolving role of reference librarians in the wake of emerging information and communication technologies that have transformed how users search for information. "There used to be a lot more hand holding on the technology than there is now.  But you still have to do a fair amount of that because library systems are kinda opaque, unfortunately, and most students do not have very much experience with them.” --Reference Librarian • Methods: • Sites in Texas: • 3 Public Libraries • 2 Large Academic Libraries • 2 Small, Private Academic Libraries • 3 Teaching Libraries • Data Collection Instruments: • 6 hours of field observation at reference • desk at each location • 1-2 hours of off desk and/or • instruction observation • 1 hour historical interview • Field Note Analysis: • Reference Desk Questions: • Structured Coding • Additional Observations and • Interviews: • Free Coding