2.6.11 Reference
The Little Dixie Regional Libraries shall provide reference service to all residents of the Little Dixie Regional Libraries district. The service shall undertake to answer all questions of a general nature. Questions considered to need technical or professional information shall be answered by referring the person to one who is qualified to answer (e.g. physicians, lawyers, tax consultants, social security personnel, etc.).
No legal or medical questions will be answered.
Instruction in the use of reference materials shall be given to all individuals searching for answers to questions.
The reference staff shall make no value judgments in answering questions. All available material on any subject shall be provided to the patron regardless of point of view of library staff. All inquiries shall receive equal priority.
Library staff is available for taking questions by telephone , mail, or email. The person’s name and contact information will be requested so information, when located, can be returned.
Library patrons in the library will take precedence over telephone, website or email reference.
Staff will assist patrons in the use of library materials. Extensive or in-depth research will be worked on as time permits.
Questions of family genealogy shall be referred to the appropriate organization. Use of the State Historical Society of Missouri’s records will be encouraged as much as possible.
Patrons will be told of other resources for information available to them if the library does not have the resource. Patrons need not ask for outside resources but should be told of the resources without their need to ask.
Posted online September 7, 2021