Book Description

This helpful book provides practical insight into the work and environment of reference services in the humanities. Librarian?s mental maps of humanities reference materials must include an awareness of the metaphoric, not too precise nature of many patrons’queries. Reference Services in the Humanities discusses the structure of literature in the humanities and how it matches or challenges mental images of the field. Chapters are infused with the issues of language, names, and meaning within a metaphoric genre. The book serves as a guide to humanist?s use of metaphoric language and also as a bibliography of sources. Reference Services in the Humanities contains specific references for finding materials in areas that are not traditional, mainstream arts. This sample of disciplines provides case studies depicting each field?s particular idiosyncrasies. Chapters examine the challenge of referral reference and common problems encountered in searching for answers to patrons’questions. The book contains a theoretical framework for interacting with patrons and addresses options for humanities reference in an electronic age. This book brings together librarians and researchers who provide and manage reference services to a wide array of disciplines within the humanities. Authors come from all types of libraries and represent a broad spectrum of patrons, from the young student curious about the movies to practicing musicians and craftspersons. This diversity provides an informative grounding for practitioners and library school students and faculty who wish to become effective reference librarians in the future. Reference Services in the Humanities is divided into four sections which address research questions and challenges in selected disciplines, descriptions from the field, political issues in the humanities, and theories and ideas for the future. Specific topics explored include access to special collections, censorship, library resources for theater artists, history research, vocabulary control, labeling of minorities, craft information sources, and much more.