The Emerging Reference Paradigm: A Vision of Reference Services in a Complex Information Environment

The emerging reference paradigm in a complex, technologically-rich information environment tends toward a more proactive, more deliberate blending of the conservative and liberal philosophies of reference, a new balance between the two. As key agents in the advancement of society and culture, libraries must recognize the value of community and the social context of information in providing services that support and enhance the full range of contemporary user needs. The complexity of the information environment, and the more open, uncontrolled distribution and access, lead to new issues for users. Reference services, with a stronger instructional role, must become more proactive in providing a fully-developed repertoire of services that are responsive to the multi-dimensional, multi-faceted queries facing libraries today. NOT THE PUBLISHED VERSION; this is the author’s final, peer-reviewed manuscript. The published version may be accessed by following the link in the citation at the bottom of the page. Library Trends, Vol 50, No. 2 (Fall, 2001): pg. 286-305. DOI. This article is © Johns Hopkins University Press and permission has been granted for this version to appear in e-Publications@Marquette. Johns Hopkins University Press does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Johns Hopkins University Press. 2 "Where there is no vision, the people perish."