Elizabeth L. Public Service Training of Student Assistants at Reference Desks in ARL Libraries

by White, E.

This study details a web based survey of the Heads of Reference at member institutions of the Association Research Libraries. The survey was conducted to determine the methods of training used by large academic reference desks in instilling the institutional public service ethic in student assistants. The research indicates that librarians at ARL reference desks who use student assistants are concerned with proper public service training, and that monetary and time constraints have prevented them from developing training in this area to its fullest extent.