Evolution or Entropy? Changing Reference/User Culture and the Future of Reference Librarians

Abstract

This article addresses issues that relate to the changing functional relationship between the reference librarian and the user, based on the observation that the advance of information technology, particularly the Internet, has altered the values, attitudes, and beliefs of library users, and, as a consequence, their microculture. Highlights include: the traditional reference desk; the changed reference environment, the creation of elec tronic reference services, and direct connections to information resources; user cultures; the convenience quo tient (a measure of what type of user orientation is most comfortable within a given type of relationship and who regards the services provided as convenient); and components of reference service with regard to infor mation resources. TT TT TThere have you gone, Lloyd's of London? A