Consulting Service: a Report from the Osaka University Life Sciences Library, 2, Interview and Dialogue in Providing IR Consulting Service

Abstract

Information retrieval (IR) consulting service is widely provided to clients at the Osaka University Life Sciences Library (OULSL), who need critical help in bibliographic searches. The author reports his experience of the IR consulting service at OULSL, showing a fictitious case of consultation for an undergraduate nursing student. It illustrates the process between a librarian and a client as practiced at OULSL, which stimulates the client into reconsideration and further thought on the subject. In conclusion, the importance of interview and dialogue is emphasized. The librarian should realize the client's needs, have a sympathetic manner, and build effective collaboration under a professional-client relationship throughout.