International Best Practices of Service-Friendly Librarians: Fresh perceptions from a year-long comparative analysis of U.S. & Asian-Pacific Libraries John Hickok, M.L.I.S., M.A. Librarian / Instructor Coordinator of Library Instruction California State University, Fullerton, USA

Service-friendly Reference/Instruction: High client-librarian interaction, so a high need to be Service-friendly

Background Project: 1-year research grant on services in libraries of Asia Project: 1-year research grant on services in libraries of Asia

Challenges Limited resources Limited resources Clients not using your services enough Clients not using your services enough Not reaching all your potential clients Not reaching all your potential clients Librarian skills not being best use Librarian skills not being best use Traditions that become inflexible Traditions that become inflexible

Challenges 1. Limited Resources Example: Laos Library: limited items

Challenges 1. Limited Resources Example: Japan school library: limited hours/staffing

Challenges 1. Limited Resources Example: everywhere: limited database budgets

Challenges Indonesia: N. Sumatra Univ. Library

Challenges Philippines: supplementing (Pathfinder)

Challenges Thailand: consortium for eBooks.

Challenges 2. Clients not using Reference or Instruction services - Possibly the nature of standardized examinations (little indep. Research)

Challenges 2. Clients not using Reference or Instruction services - Possibly over-reliance of Internet

Challenges 2. Clients not using Reference or Instruction services -Possibly a negative stereotype or impression of librarians

Challenges Singapore: Market the Reference Desk!

Challenges Taiwan Public: Promoting Librarians over Google

Challenges U.S.: making librarians instructors

Challenges 3. Not reaching clients to help them become Information Literate

Challenges Japan: I only use the library for a Japan: I only use the library for a place to study place to study

Challenges 3. Not reaching clients to help them become Information Literate Korea: I use Naver, not the library Korea: I use Naver, not the library

Challenges 3. Not reaching clients to help them become Information Literate USA: I don t remember much from my freshman library orientation USA: I don t remember much from my freshman library orientation

Challenges Malaysia: required I.L. course for all first year students, taught by librarians.

Challenges Philippines: required 3 rd /4 th year student library research component

Challenges USA: roaming librarian project

Challenges 4. Librarian subject expertise not used or available

Challenges China: Reference librarians are often librarians are often put in back offices, put in back offices, unavailable unavailable

Challenges 4. Librarian subject expertise not used or available Vietnam: often librarians work low-level clerical positions

Challenges 4. Librarian subject expertise not used or available Thailand: LIS students exclusively LIS only; no other subject knowledge

Challenges Philippines: Pathfinders specialization

Challenges USA: Online library guides by major

Challenges Hong Kong: Librarians creative freedom for to create online tutorials

Challenges 5. When traditions become inflexible

Challenges Japan: mandatory staff rotations among library divisions

Challenges 5. When traditions become inflexible Everywhere: total silence total silence tradition still tradition stillprevalent

Challenges 5. When traditions become inflexible Thailand, China, etc.: outsider, non librarian Library Directors appointed

Challenges Vietnam: creative thinking – caf é within the library

Challenges Singapore: Lively, open, noisy Information Learning Commons area

Challenges Indonesia, Philippines: certain libraries more flexible Thesis allowance

Conclusion Other libraries share many of your common challenges … Look at their innovations, and apply their success to your own library!