The public service staff encompasses all of the library workers who talk to the patrons, discover their needs and follow up to make sure those needs have been met. This is true for any type of library. Many people in your own library work to support library service, but the public service staff are the only ones who have direct public contact. The library staff working directly with the public have the ultimate responsibility for making sure the patrons' information needs are met. This may involve enlisting the cooperation of other library staff and administrators in ensuring that a strong emphasis is placed on the library's role in providing information.
By using the techniques listed on the following pages, you can assure you colleagues that you are being successful in your work to connect patrons to the information they need.
Public services staff...
are the only library staff with direct public contact
discover the patrons information needs
follow-up with patrons to make sure their needs have been met
influence the daily success of the library
have the ultimate responsibility for meetings patrons needs