Reference librarians recommend, interpret, evaluate, and/or use information resources to help patrons with specific information needs.
Requests for assistance often occur in person at the library, reference is increasingly conducted by phone, chat and email.
In small libraries all librarians may be called upon to perform reference duties; in large and/or academic libraries reference services may be highly specialized.
A Career in Reference Services . . . Is for Everyone!
RUSA (Reference and User Services Association) is the division of the American Library Association which serves reference librarians.