Rules & Regulations and Reality: Rethinking Reference Work in the Library of the Future

Abstract

While the last year and a half have not been easy or enjoyable for librarians, it has provided us with more of a glimpse into the library of the future and how we will meet the needs of our users. With limited access to print holdings at our libraries and others, we were forced to creatively solve problems to help our users conduct their research.

Using an eclectic set of rules from a variety of sources including S. R. Ranganathan's five laws of library science, Zingerman's 12 natural laws of business, Zombieland Rules, this presentation will focus on how one library responded to space and collection deficits as they rebuilt their services a few years before the pandemic and how they fared in the last year. Most importantly, the presentation will focus on how these experiences have helped craft and mold a vision for reference and library services at Kresge.