This is a challenging aspect of a youth service librarian’s job. what is it that the child is looking for? Children are complex and can be misunderstood which makes them a user group that many librarians do not want to deal with. But I find them fascinating, funny, and incredibly smart. It is important that children are able to receive reference service as well because they have very specific information needs.
There are three basic types of service that they need. help with homework and research, voluntary inquires based on curiosity and assistance with personal problems or issues. This is the dilemma for many librarians because they don’t want to be the teacher or parent helping or doing homework for the children. This as an opportunity because if the child is not getting the help anywhere else this is the librarians opportunity to step in. Librarians are trained and specialized in knowing the tricks to research and assisting patron’s information needs, and it is our duty to assist with homework help. The curiosity questions are a bonus. children have a quest to soak up knowledge because they are growing and being able to satisfy their thirst is rewarding. And assisting children in their personal lives can be tricky, because they will tell you your life story and then some. Librarians need to put their own judgement aside and give the best answer for that situation and if needed talk to the parent or caregiver.
Shenton and Dixson’s “Information Needs: Learning More about What Kids Want, Need, and Expect from Research” explains the types of needs that arise and the variables that effect them. This is crucial to understanding how to do a reference interview with a child because they care about accuracy and urgency as well as adults. But children are different in how they act socially and the types of questions asked. The authors came up with strategies for practice and an important one is to develop questions that are not based on preconceived notions but based on the child’s real needs (Shenton, 26). It is also necessary to have open dialogue with the child patron because that way if the need was not met by certain materials the search can be tried again. This is crucial because some children are shy and will not say so, or they do not even realize they didn’t meet their own need.
Children’s reference is rewarding and demanding. Librarians have to know it all and be able to read minds, but not really we can do those things by being friendly, attempting the question wholeheartedly, and knowing the library’s collection.
Shenton, A.K. and P. Dixson, “Information Needs: Learning More about What Kids Want, Need, and Expect from Research.” Children and Libraries 3 (2): 20-28.