Reference and User Services Association

Reference and User Services Association is a division of the American Library Association that focuses on providing excellent service to library users, developing and promoting collections, and enhancing the professional development of its members, who work in various libraries, including New York Public Library, Library of Congress, and British Library. The association's mission is to support the development of library services, such as interlibrary loan and information literacy, in collaboration with other organizations like Online Computer Library Center and Institute of Museum and Library Services. The association's activities are guided by the principles of intellectual freedom, as outlined in the Library Bill of Rights, and the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association, which emphasize the importance of providing access to information and promoting literacy programs, such as those offered by National Literacy Directory and Reading Is Fundamental.

● History

The Reference and User Services Association was established in 1957 as the Reference Services Division of the American Library Association, with the goal of promoting excellence in reference services, such as those provided by Ask a Librarian and Library of Congress's Ask a Librarian service. Over the years, the association has undergone several name changes, reflecting its expanding scope and mission, which now includes supporting the development of digital libraries, such as Internet Archive and Project Gutenberg, and promoting information technology literacy, as advocated by Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. The association has worked closely with other organizations, including Special Libraries Association, Medical Library Association, and Association of College and Research Libraries, to advance the field of librarianship and provide support for library professionals, such as those working at Harvard University Library and University of California, Berkeley Library.

● Organization

The Reference and User Services Association is a division of the American Library Association, with its own governing board, committees, and sections, which work together to achieve the association's goals, such as promoting library outreach programs, like those offered by National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and supporting the development of library collections, including rare book and special collections like those found at Bodleian Library and Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. The association has several sections, including the Collection Development and Evaluation Section, Reference Services Section, and User Services Section, which focus on specific areas of library service, such as collection development, reference services, and user experience, and work with other organizations, like Book Industry Study Group and Publishers Association, to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices. The association's members include librarians and library staff from various types of libraries, including public libraries, academic libraries, and special libraries, such as Law Library of Congress and National Library of Medicine.

● Awards_and_Honors

The Reference and User Services Association presents several awards and honors to recognize outstanding contributions to the field of librarianship, including the Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award, Dartmouth Medal, and Notable Books List, which are sponsored by organizations like H.W. Wilson Company and R.R. Bowker. These awards honor individuals and libraries that have made significant contributions to the development of library services, such as library instruction and information literacy programs, like those offered by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library and University of Washington Libraries. The association also recognizes notable books and other materials, such as those listed in the Notable Books List and Outstanding Reference Sources List, which are selected by committees composed of librarians from institutions like Yale University Library and Stanford University Libraries.

● Publications

The Reference and User Services Association publishes several publications, including RUSA Update, Reference and User Services Quarterly, and RUSA Review, which provide news, articles, and reviews on topics related to library services, such as collection development, reference services, and user experience, and feature contributions from experts like S.R. Ranganathan and Melvil Dewey. The association also publishes guides and other resources, such as the Guidelines for Library Services to People with Disabilities and RUSA Guidelines for Mediated Information Services, which are developed in collaboration with organizations like National Organization on Disability and World Health Organization. These publications are available to members and non-members, and are often cited in publications like Journal of Academic Librarianship and Library and Information Science Research.

● Initiatives_and_Projects

The Reference and User Services Association is involved in several initiatives and projects, including the Emerging Technologies Section, Reference Services Section, and User Services Section, which focus on specific areas of library service, such as emerging technologies, reference services, and user experience, and work with other organizations, like Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Association for Computing Machinery, to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices. The association also participates in national and international initiatives, such as the National Information Literacy Initiative and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions's Information Literacy Section, which aim to promote information literacy and support the development of library services, like those provided by National Library of Australia and National Diet Library. The association's initiatives and projects are often supported by grants and funding from organizations like Institute of Museum and Library Services and National Endowment for the Humanities.

● Membership_and_Participation

The Reference and User Services Association has a diverse membership, including librarians and library staff from various types of libraries, such as public libraries, academic libraries, and special libraries, like Library of Parliament and National Library of Scotland. Members can participate in the association's activities, such as attending conferences and meetings, like American Library Association Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting, and serving on committees and sections, like Collection Development and Evaluation Section and Reference Services Section. The association also offers opportunities for professional development, such as workshops and webinars, like those offered by Library of Congress and Online Computer Library Center, and provides a forum for members to share their experiences and expertise, like those featured in RUSA Update and Reference and User Services Quarterly. Members can also participate in the association's online communities, like RUSA listserv and RUSA Facebook page, which provide a platform for discussion and collaboration with other librarians and library professionals, such as those working at University of Oxford Bodleian Library and University of Cambridge Library.