Guide #15. Providing Reference Service
in Church and Synagogue Libraries
Jennifer Pritchett. 1987, 60 pages. $9.75, members $8.00
The reference section is a vital part of any library. And patrons can become proficient at using those big, thick volumes and librarians can learn to enjoy spending more money on just one book because they know it’s worth it.
CSLA Guide No. 15, Providing Reference Service in Church and Synagogue Libraries, explores the need for reference books, provides some selection guidelines, discusses circulation issues, explains the various types of books and suggests ideas for promoting the use of these books in a congregational library. A bibliography is given on topics such as Bible atlases, Bible handbooks, church history, worship, and music. Reference books are also given for a small Jewish library. A list of publishers of religious reference books is also included. An addendum includes books through 2000.
“As a church librarian I have considered it one of my greatest joys to share my enthusiasm for reference books with the people who use our library,” writes Guide 15 author Jennifer Pritchett in the preface. “The response has been an overwhelming thank-you from people who previously had no idea that these resources were available.”
Table of Contents
1 - WHAT ARE REFERENCE BOOKS
2 - BUILDING A REFERENCE COLLECTION
3 - LEARNING TO BE A REFERENCE LIBRARIAN
4 - PROMOTING THE REFERENCE SECTION
5 - SOME SUGGESTED REFERENCE BOOKS AND HOW TO USE THEM
6 - REFERENCE BOOKS FOR A SMALL JEWISH LIBRARY
7 - PUBLISHERS OF RELIGIOUS REFERENCE BOOKS
