Identify information needs and respond through the design and provision of information products and services
During my second year in the MLIS program, I worked as a Student Librarian at the David Lam Management Research Library at UBC. In this role, I provide reference and research support to students and faculty within the Sauder School of Business. My work involves several stages of the reference process, including conducting reference interviews to understand patrons’ information needs, identifying where relevant information may reside, developing search strategies, and adjusting those strategies based on search results. I also explain and demonstrate effective search techniques to patrons and assess whether the information retrieved meets their needs.
Reference work has trained me to listen for what someone actually needs rather than focusing only on what they initially ask for. Some patrons approach the desk with limited knowledge of library services and resources and are unsure what they should ask for. Others may come with research questions that are still in an early stage of development and are therefore difficult to articulate. In these cases, patrons often begin with questions that are vague or loosely defined. My role is to help translate these questions into something that can be researched, structured, and acted upon. This process often involves asking clarifying questions, gathering contextual information about the assignment or research topic, and identifying the underlying information need behind the initial question.
In the context of business research, relevant information is often scattered across different databases, reports, company websites, and industry sources rather than being organized within a single system. As a result, locating useful information often requires exploring multiple platforms and refining search strategies along the way. Through repeated reference interactions, I have learned to break broad questions into smaller researchable components and adjust strategies when initial searches do not produce useful results.
Through these experiences, I have developed stronger skills in interpreting user needs, navigating complex information environments, and responding flexibly to different situations. These transferable skills are valuable not only in reference services but across many areas of library practice.
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