Roving Reference Debuts at DPL

The Library has added a new service at their Main Street location: mobile reference. Patrons walking the stacks and using computers will not need to go to the reference desk to ask a question, the reference librarians will come to them.

By providing this service, the Reference Department intends to educate the public about finding quality resources, while also making people feel at ease while using the library.

Rita Specht, reference supervisor, reflects that patrons are accepting what they find on the internet to be accurate and consequently accepting faulty information as “better than nothing.” She also says that some people don’t know reference service exists and how it can benefit them.

“If you aren’t a regular library-user, it can be intimidating to use the library,” said Specht. “We [Reference Department] want to get out to where the patrons are – in the stacks, on the computers, and browsing magazines – and help them.”

Specht says that this new service model is part of the library’s new Strategic Plan. “We consistently receive a huge approval rating in the City’s Citizen Survey. We want to keep earning those ratings and pleasing our patrons. Adding mobile reference to our already incredible list of services is just another way we can do that.”

Although mobile reference service just began in January, reference librarians are seeing the results. Veteran reference librarian, Lynn Palmer, was the mobile librarian the other day when she saw a man looking lost.  She helped him to the correct location, on the other side of the library.

“I know what it’s like to be in a big store, wandering around and getting frustrated, hoping to find someone to save you a little time,” she said. “It’s great to be able to help patrons find what they need.”

If you have a question, any question, contact the Reference Department at the Davenport Public Library. There are numerous ways to contact us: in person, by telephone, email, chat, Info Café blog, and social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. Go to www.davenportlibrary.com and click on “Reference Service” to learn more. Don’t have a computer? Call us at 563-326-7844.