RUSA Guidelines

A guideline serves as an authoritative document offering suggested levels of performance or adequacy. It can outline a recommended course of action. Unlike standards that carry the weight of a rule, guidelines describe measures to help libraries meet the requirements of a standard. The Bylaws of the American Library Association permit only type-of-library divisions to adopt standards. RUSA, as a type-of-activity division, is restricted to writing guidelines. The RUSA Standards and Guidelines Committee coordinates the development of all guidelines written within RUSA.

Reference and User Services Guideline Links by Topic

Collection Development

Elements for Basic Reviews: A Guide for Writers and Readers of Reviews of Works in All Mediums and Genres (2006)
Guidelines for Liaison Work in Managing Collections and Services (2010)
Guidelines for Preparation of a Bibliography (2010)

Electronic Services

Guidelines for the Introduction of Electronic Information Resources to Users (2006)
Guidelines for Implementing and Maintaining Virtual Reference Services (2010)

Genealogy, History

Guidelines for a Unit or Course of Instruction in Genealogical Research at Schools of Library and Information Science (2007)
Guidelines for Developing a Core Genealogy Collection (2007)
Guidelines for Establishing Local History Collections (2006)

Interlibrary Loan

Guidelines for Interlibrary Loan Operations Management (2012)
Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States  (2008) (Includes link to generic ILL form)
Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States Explanatory Supplement
Guidelines for Resource-Sharing Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters  (July 2010)

Reference/Information Services

New Definition of Reference (2008)
Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers (2004)
Guidelines for Cooperative Reference Services (2006)
Guidelines for Implementing and Maintaining Virtual Reference Services (2010)
Guidelines for Information Services (2000)
Guidelines for Medical, Legal, and Business Responses (2001)
Professional Competencies for Reference and User Services Librarians   (2003)

User Populations

Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of Multilingual Collections and Services (2007)
Guidelines for Library Services to Older Adults (2008)
Guidelines for Library Services to Spanish-Speaking Library Users (2007)
Guidelines for Library Services to Teens (2007)