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Enabling the roving reference librarian: wireless access with tablet PCs

Michael M. Smith (Assistant Professor and Business Reference Librarian, West Campus Library, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA)
Barbara A. Pietraszewski (Associate Librarian at the Kresge Business Administration Library, University of Michigan Business School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, and was formerly Assistant Professor and Business Reference Librarian at the West Campus Library, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA)

Reference Services Review

ISSN: 0090-7324

Article publication date: 1 September 2004

3441

Abstract

While many academic libraries are reporting fewer reference interactions, gate counts are not dropping at the same rate. To many students, asking questions is taking a risk that they will appear unknowledgeable. Librarians have branched out to find new ways to communicate with these students. This article describes the creation and testing of a roving reference strategy at the Texas A&M University Libraries that sought to re‐establish the face‐to‐face element by going directly to the student. Tablet PC technology was evaluated and utilized as a means to equip the librarians with the necessary electronic access as they roved in student study areas.

Keywords

Citation

Smith, M.M. and Pietraszewski, B.A. (2004), "Enabling the roving reference librarian: wireless access with tablet PCs", Reference Services Review, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 249-255. https://doi.org/10.1108/00907320410553650

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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