The Reference Service in University Libraries

Abstract

The purpose of this survey is to clear up the actual condition of reference service, which lays emphasis on personnel, materials, and quarters of college and university libraries in Japan.
For this purpose, the writer adopted the random sampling method and chose 160 samples from 462 libraries, to which questionnaires were sent.
According to the results of this survey, 76.3% of 160 libraries are providing this service for students and faculty and services provied are as follows:
　a. Handling the reference questions　87%
　b. Instruction in the use of the library　84%
　c. Selection and care of reference materials　60%
　d. Inter-library loans of library materials　58%
　e. Advisory service to readers　52%
　f. Compiling bibliographies and indexes　36%
　g. Reproduction of materials using optical instruments　36%
　h. Recording reference questions and evaluating reference services　10%
　i. Others　6%