Re-engineering of Reference Service

Abstract

The introduction of new information and communication technologies, as well as the emergence and development of new techniques in information processing, storage, and dissemination have changed the role of all types of libraries in information dissemination. This has made libraries to supplement long-established services with online services to users, fulfilling any time and anywhere needs and expectations. The World Wide Web is a new powerful tool for reference librarians. Information which was once only available to large libraries with very high budgets is suddenly available to any library with Internet connections. Reference librarians themselves are participating in the electronic publication trade by creating Web pages and finding aids to assist both themselves and their users to locate information electronically on the World Wide Web. The web which poses a new challenge for librarians, offers major new tools and techniques to provide the powerful services. The present paper tries to focus new aspect of reference service. It also highlights the various efforts undertaken by different types of libraries in this direction.