From Past-Present to Future-Perfect

A Tribute to Charles A. Bunge and the Challenges of Contemporary Reference Service

Explore a compilation of reference service works by Charles A. Bunge, a leader in the field!

This informative and delightful book highlights the contributions of Charles A. Bunge to the literature on reference service. From Past-Present to Future-Perfect: A Tribute to Charles A. Bunge and the Challenges of Contemporary Reference Service offers reference librarian professionals the reprints of selected articles by Charles Bunge, bibliographies of his published work, and original articles that draw on Bunge’s values and ideas in assessing the present and shaping the future of reference service. Through this guide, you will explore four categories of Bunge’s work, which include measuring the effectiveness of reference service, the reference environment, reference sources, and reflecting on the past and future of reference work. This important book will assist you in creating and maintaining an effective and ethical reference service that will help patrons find the materials they need.

With From Past-Present to Future-Perfect, you will gain access to some of Bunge’s most important articles on the reference environment. Some of the helpful reference service information you will examine includes:

• ways of putting joy back into reference work to counteract the situation of low morale among practicing reference librarians

• discussions on the challenge of continual learning for reference librarians and strategies for updating knowledge and skills

• understanding and organizational strategies for handling stress in the library workplace

• exploring the realm of an ethical reference practice and how a reference librarian should act or behave in providing reference services

• peer coaching programs for reference librarians to assist the learning and sharing of knowledge among colleagues

• organizing electronic reference sources

• assisting patrons with their reference questions

• using technology in the reference environment

  Thorough and comprehensive, this excellent resource explores the changes that have occurred in reference and information resources, and techniques for setting goals and objectives for your reference department. From Past-Present to Future-Perfect looks at the exciting and challenging world of reference librarianship and gives you valuable insights and ideas on how to improve and update your reference department.