Reference Services Section (RSS)

10/14/2022

Our RSS Board reached a decision to postpone our use of Facebook until further notice. We will focus our efforts on using our Connect page to communicate with our prospective and current RSS members.

Here is the RSS Connect: https://bit.ly/3Og1Nx5. Learn more at https://www.ala.org/rusa/sections/rss.

Regards,

Paul Chasen
Chair
RUSA Reference Services Section

What is RSS? RSS represents frontline librarians, information specialists, and library support staff engaged in all aspects of reference and information services across all types of libraries by: Creating professional development and educational opportunities, Collaborating among colleagues, and Rep...

07/18/2022

Welcome to the 2022-2023 RUSA RSS (Reference Services Section) Year!

I would like to welcome current and prospective members to the new year of the RSS. I look forward to chairing our section and accomplishing goals that align with RUSA and all of the ALA.

As we get further into the summertime and year, I will go into more detail about what the RSS will be doing. In the meantime, I want to recognize our outstanding members of our Board for this year:

Melissa Del Castillo: Vice-Chair/Chair Elect
Juliana Morley: Secretary
Fatima Perkins: Past Chair
Kelly McCusker: Member-at-Large
Janet O'Keefe: Member-at-Large
Karen Reiman-Sendi: Member-at-Large.

Want to learn more about the RSS? Please reply back to this post, our contact us directly in Connect: https://bit.ly/3Og1Nx5.

Regards,

Paul Chasen
Chair
RUSA Reference Services Section

07/06/2022

Please review and comment on Draft 2: http://bit.ly/RUSA-BG-DRAFT.

06/09/2022

Mark it on your ALA Annual Conference Calendar!
Reference Services Section- All Committees Meeting
Monday, June 27, 2022
8:30am – 10:00am
Location: Washington Convention Center, 102B

This meeting's purpose is to discuss committee activities, accomplishments, challenges, and more. Enjoy networking and spending time with colleagues. Come one, come all to our meeting!

04/28/2022

Interested in volunteering in one of our committees?

Communications Committee
Education & Prof. Development for Reference
Library Service to an Aging Population
Managing, Marketing & Measuring Reference Committee
Nominating Committee
Research and Statistics Committee
Research Help in Academic Libraries
User Services in Public Libraries
Virtual Reference Services

We would like to have you on board! You will get to meet volunteers from all types of libraries who take pride in reference services. You will also get to learn from experienced volunteers who will get you settled into your new role.

LibLearnX, ALA Annual, and other events are encouraged, but optional to attend when you volunteer with RSS!

Interested? Please fill out the Volunteer Form: https://www.ala.org/rusa/members/volunteer

Deadline to apply: Friday, 5/27/22.

Thank you for considering volunteering your time and talent to a RUSA or RUSA Section committee. Volunteer service is the lifeblood of our organization. You will benefit from your service to RUSA in ways you may not even imagine! Whether you have a specific committee in mind or just want to cast you...

04/18/2022

On behalf of the RSS Board of Directors, we would like to congratulate the winners of the 2022 RSS Elections:

--Vice-Chair/Chair Elect: Melissa Del Castillo
--Secretary: Juliana Morley
--Member at Large: Karen Reiman-Sendi

To all of the RSS members, thank you for voting in this competitive election. Melissa, Juliana, and Karen, we look forward to having you on board in 2022-2023.

03/29/2022

The past year has been full of change! Join us on April 12th & 13th, 2022 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm EST to unpack your experiences and connect with other reference service providers at the ALA Connect eForum: Back to Basics: Crowdsourcing a Virtual Reference Praxis. This year’s Virtual Reference and Emerging Technology eForum will focus on changes to reference services, emerging trends, and shared introspections on how reference work has evolved. Find lively discourse on topics such as the changing models of reference, the future of work, upskilling staff, creative marketing practices, and more! Spark a conversation, share your experience, hot tips, and tools, and make friends in the process! We have a topic for what you geek, regardless of whether your passion is diversity, equity, and inclusion, emerging economic trends, or revitalizing our foundational ideas.

Find the Virtual Reference & Emerging Technology eForum at its new home in ALA Connect, log in or create a free account, and then click the “Join Community” button. Full Details including topics, readings, & schedules can be found @ http://bit.ly/3i6vTWb

03/24/2022

Still deciding on who to vote for? We have a fantastic slate of candidates!

Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect
--Hilary Kraus
--Melissa Del Castillo

Secretary
--Steven Miller, Jr.
--Juliana Morley

Member-At-Large
--Karen Reiman-Sendi
--Taina Evans

The voting link has probably been sent to you a couple of times, and for good reason.
Please vote by 4/6/22.

02/28/2022

Interested in volunteering in one of our committees in 2022-2023?

-Communications Committee
-Education & Prof. Development for Reference
-Library Service to an Aging Population
-Managing, Marketing & Measuring Reference Committee
-Nominating Committee
-Research and Statistics Committee
-Research Help in Academic Libraries
-User Services in Public Libraries
-Virtual Reference Services

We would like to have you on board! You will get to meet volunteers from all types of libraries who take pride in reference services. You will also get to learn from experienced volunteers who will get you settled into your new role.

Interested? Please fill out the Volunteer Form: https://www.ala.org/rusa/members/volunteer-

Deadline to apply: Friday, 5/27/22.

If you arrived here by following a bookmark or a link, use the site search. If you still can’t find what you need, use the ALA Website Feedback Form or send an email to the ALA Librarians. You should receive a reply, usually within a business day.

11/16/2021

On 3/8/22 and 3/10/22, the RUSA Virtual Forum will be taking place. If you belong to an RSS committee and would like to bring more awareness to your committee, please submit in a proposal by 11/29/21: https://bit.ly/3kJ8Su7. Thanks!

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is seeking proposals for the first-ever RUSA Virtual Forum. The RUSA Virtual Forum will serve as an engaging platform to spark innovation and collaboration among RUSA members, sections, and interest groups. The proposed date for the RUSA Virtual For...

09/29/2021

Do you enjoy working with seniors at your library? Interested in learning more about innovative library programs and services for older adults? If so, please consider joining our RSS Library Services to an Aging Population Committee. We meet once a month via Zoom to discuss ideas for a spring webinar and a program at ALA Annual. For more information, contact Janet Tom at .