The origins of the Reference: analysis and development of the service
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2283-9364/16784Keywords:
History of libraries, Reference service, Public libraries, University libraries, Special librariesAbstract
This paper analyzes the origins and development of the reference service and how it has become the most important practice within libraries. Through a historical investigation that begins in the second half of the nineteenth century and continues beyond the middle of the twentieth century, the diffusion of this activity in its various components and ramifications is outlined, focusing on the application differences present in the various types of library institutions. The research analyzes the causes that led to the birth of this activity, which has completely revolutionized the way of perceiving libraries and their work. Using the sources of the main authors who have dealt with this topic, it is possible to understand the growth of the concept of “assistance” towards readers, its various extensions and above all the consequences that these ideas had on the evolution of the image of libraries within the society.
References
Bianchini 2015 = Carlo Bianchini, I fondamenti della biblioteconomia: attualità del pensiero di S. R. Ranganathan, Biblioteconomia e scienza dell’informazione, Milano, Editrice bibliografica, 2015.
Bishop 1915 = Walter Bishop, The Theory of Reference Work, «Papers and Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh General Meeting of the American Library Association», IX (1915), 4, pp.134-139.
Chappell 1976 = Marcia H. Chappell, The Place of Reference Service in Ranganathan’s Theory of Librarianship, «The Library Quarterly», XLVI (1976), 4, pp.378–396.
Columbia University 1858 = University of Columbia, Report of a committee of the trustees of Columbia college, appointed to inquire into the condition of the institution, and to consider such measures as might be judged expedient to increase its efficiency and usefulness, New York, J.W. Amerman, 1858.
Del Bono 2007 = Gianna Del Bono, Il servizio di consultazione, in Solimine Giovanni - Weston Paul Gabriele (a cura di), Biblioteconomia: principi e questioni, Roma, Carocci, pp. 291-313.
Della Santa 1816 = Leopoldo Della Santa, Della costruzione e del regolamento di una pubblica universale biblioteca, Firenze, Gaspero Ricci da S. Trinita, 1816.
Emery 1970 = Richard Emery, Steps in Reference Theory, «Library Association Record», LXXII (1970), 3, pp. 88-90, 96.
Green 1876 = Samuel Swett Green, Personal Relations Between Librarians and Readers, «Library Journal», I (1876), pp.74–81.
Hutchins 1944 = Margaret Hutchins, Introduction to Reference Work, Chicago, American Library Association, 1944.
Johnson 1915 = Ethel M. Johnson, The Special Library and Some of Its Problems, «Special Libraries», VI (1915), 10, pp.157–170.
Leonardi 2000 = Carla Leonardi, I servizi di informazione al pubblico: il rapporto con l’utente in una biblioteca amichevole, Bibliografia e biblioteconomia. Milano, Editrice Bibliografica, 2000.
Ranganathan 1961 = Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan, Reference service, 2nd ed., Ranganathan series in library science 9, Bombay, Asia Publishing House, 1961.
Ranganathan 1963 = Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan, The Five Laws of Library Science, 2nd ed., Bangalore, Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for library science, 1963.
Robinson - Winsor 1880 = Otis Hall Robinson,JustinWinsor, College Libraries as Aids to Instruction, Washington, Govt. Print. Off., 1880.
Rothstein 1961 = Samuel Rothstein, Reference Service: The New Dimension in Librarianship, «College and Research Libraries», XXII (1961), 1, pp.11–18.
Rothstein 1955 = Samuel Rothstein, The development of reference services through academic traditions,public library practice, and special librarianship, Chicago, Association of College and Reference Libraries, 1955.
Rothstein 1953 = Samuel Rothstein, The development of the concept of Reference Service in American Libraries, 1850-1900, «The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy», XXIII (1953), 1, pp.1-15.
Singer 2010 = Carol A. Singer, Ready Reference Collections: A History, «Reference & User Services Quarterly», XLIX (2010), 3, pp.253–264.
Spofford 1900 = Ainsworth Rand Spofford, A Book for All Readers, New York & London, G. P. Putnam’s sons, 1900.
Tyckoson 2003 = David Tyckoson, On the Desirableness of Personal Relations between Librarians and Readers: The Past and Future of Reference Service, «Reference Services Review», XXXI (2003), 1, pp.12–16.
United States. Office of Education 1876 = United States. Office of Education, Public Libraries in the United States of America: Part I: 1876 Report, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library Science, 1876.
Vavrek 1968 = Bernard F. Vavrek, A Theory of Reference Service,«College & Research Libraries», XXIX (1968), 6, pp.508-510.
Whittaker1977 = Kenneth Whittaker, Towards a Theory for Reference and Information Service, «Journal of Librarianship», IX (1977), 1, pp.49-63. Williamson 1916 = Charles C. Williamson, The Public Official and the Special Library, «Special libraries», VII (1916), 5, pp.111-131.
Wyer 1930 = James Ingersoll Wyer, Reference work; a textbook for students of library work and librarians, Library curriculum studies, Chicago, American library association, 1930.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Paolo Cucchetti
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
