Information Services Management Committee

Minutes of the Meeting of December 2, 2003
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Porter Conference Room

Present: Christy Branston, Helena Calogeridis, Judy McTaggart, Jim Parrott, Richard Pinnell, Susan Routliffe (Chair), Jackie Stapleton, Melanie Watkins, Rose Koebel (Recorder)

Guest: Susan Bellingham

Regrets: Mary Stanley, Linda Teather

1. Minutes of Previous Meeting

   The minutes of the meeting of November 18, 2003 were approved.

2. Skills or Competencies Needed for Reference Work

   The Project Charter for the Review of Reference Service at the University of Waterloo Library includes documenting the skills required for reference work. The Committee began this discussion by reviewing two documents, “Professional Competencies for Reference and User Services Librarians” and “Guidelines for Behavioural Performance of Reference and Information Services Professionals” available at http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/RUSA/Professional_Tools4/Reference_Guidelines/Professional_Competencies_for_Reference_and_User_Services_Librarians.htm and
   http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/RUSA/Professional_Tools4/Reference_Guidelines/Guidelines_for_Behavioral_Performance_of_Reference_and_Information_Services_Professionals.htm. During this exploratory discussion, Committee members identified a range of skills they felt staff currently need at the information desk. It was suggested that the skills documented today be grouped into these categories:

   • interpersonal
   • technological
   • pedagogical
   • retrieval, selection and evaluation
   • reference interview
   The list of skills will be compiled and distributed to the Committee by the next meeting.

Next Meeting: December 16 at Davis.