RUSA revises guidelines for Cooperative Reference Services
Contact: Cathleen Bourdon
RUSA/ASCLA Executive Director
800-545-2433 x 4395
For Immediate Release
August 8, 2006
RUSA revises guidelines for Cooperative Reference Services
CHICAGO - The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, has approved a revision of the 1998 Guidelines for Cooperative Reference Services. The RUSA Cooperative Reference Service Committee updated the guidelines to incorporate changes in the field.
"These guidelines will assist institutions in establishing and evaluating cooperative reference services," said Diana Shonrock, RUSA president. "Reference librarians often rely upon colleagues at other institutions to help answer users' questions. These guidelines spell out the things to consider in establishing a formal relationship."
The guidelines cover the purpose of the service, its administration, the delivery of services, and evaluation. The full text of the guidelines is available on the RUSA website at
http://www.ala.org/rusa/stnd_coop.html. The guidelines also will be printed in an upcoming issue of
Reference and User Services Quarterly.
RUSA is the ALA division devoted to supporting the delivery of reference/information services to all groups and of general library services to adults.
Its 5,000 members represent all types of libraries.
