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Reference on the Road Bookmobile User in Rural Communities. Serenity Isben Marta Murvosh Amber Slaven Emporia State University, LI-804 ***A User Report (see notes). More than 100 years of rural service. An undated photo provided to ALA by Everett Public Library
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Reference on the RoadBookmobile User in Rural Communities Serenity Isben Marta Murvosh Amber Slaven Emporia State University, LI-804 ***A User Report (see notes)
More than 100 years of rural service An undated photo provided to ALA by Everett Public Library One of the first bookmobile in Washington state
Reference by land and by water An undated photo provided to ALA Alaska Libraries floating bookmobile
Who are the reference users? • Hard to define • 13% to gain knowledge for work, career, or school • 9% for information to make repairs • 7% for school assignment • 1% to look for a job Kennedy, 1998
Who are the reference users? Sno-Isle Libraries, Wa. • General public • Public school children • Native American teens and children • Homeschoolers Moore, 2010
Index, Washington • A town of 155 people nestled in the Cascade Mountain Range
Reference Transactions • Ready Reference • Reshaping Questions • Reader’s Advisory • Referrals • User Instruction • Multi-use ready-reference collection
Challenges and Issues • ***Stereotypes • Limited space for reference resources • Technology limitations • Lack of staff knowledge and/or training • Lack of staff authority • Lack of respect -- orphan service • Changing policies • ***Low-frequency users
Challenges and Issues • ***Stereotypes • Access, physical or technological barriers • Poverty in some communities • Lack of space on bookmobile
Meeting the Challenges • Right people staffing the bookmobile • Ongoing collection development • ***Method to serve low-frequency users (Serenity?) • *** On the mobile experience • *** Knowing the patrons
Best Practices • ***Xxx • ***Develops methods to reach out to low-frequency users • Build partnerships with community services • Following ABOS standards • *** Fund toll-free line to library
References: • Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (2008). National bookmobile guidelines. [web site]. Retrieved from http://www.abos-outreach.org/ . • American Library Association Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (2005). 100 years of bookmobiles! [sic]. [presentation]. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org. • Institute of Museum and Library Services (2009, June). Public Libraries Survey Fiscal Year 2007 • Kennedy, L. (1998) Pennsylvania bookmobile survey. Rural Libraries. 18(1) 23-30. • Moore, L. (personal communication. February 10, 2010). • Perry, C. (personal communication, February 22, 2010). • Petro, L. (personal communication, February 22, 2010). • Rawlins, S. (2000). Rustic roving: an “alternative lifestyle” bookmobile. Rural Libraries, 20(2), 63-4. • Smith, H. (1959). Library services for rural people. U.S. Department of Agriculture pamphlet. Washington, D.C.: USA. U.S. Government Printing Office. • Totten, K. (2009, August 1) Interviewing and Hiring for Outreach Services [web log] OLOS Columns Retrieved at http://olos.ala.org/columns/?p=46. • Washington State Office of Financial Management. (2009). April 1 population of cities, towns, and counties. [Web site]. Retrieved from http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/april1/finalpop2009.pdf
References continued: • Xxxx