A blank version of this form is on the next page for you to photocopy and use with patrons.

• DATE:
  
  
• LIBRARY: (Don't forget to let the reference center know who is sending the question)
  
  
• LIBRARIAN:
  
  
• PATRON NAME:
  
• ADDRESS:
  
• TELEPHONE DAY:
  
• TELEPHONE NIGHT:
  
  
• DEADLINE: (Date after which no longer needed. If there is a deadline, give reason.)
  
  • Be specific.
  • ALL our questions are answered "as soon as possible" so any question with that as the deadline may be treated as if no deadline were given.
    
    
• BASIC QUESTION: (Use as much room as needed. Use back and extra pages if needed.)
  • Please be wordy.
  • You can't imagine how hard it is to answer a "one line" question.
  • It is generally NOT a good idea to have the patron fill in the form.
  • Remember that you should have learned the answers to these questions by using good reference interview techniques such as open questioning.
    
    
• REASON: (Purpose to which information will be put helps us determine type of material to send.)
  
  
• PATRON LEVEL: (Who is the patron, e.g., adult, professional? Level of material that can be used.)
  
  • Please don't just underline "adult."
  • Tell a little about the person and their level of expertise IN THIS SUBJECT.
  
  
  
• PATRON SOURCE: (Where did the patron hear of this? Please be as specific as possible.) What prompted the question?
  
  
• SOURCES CHECKED: (What have the librarian and patron already looked at? Includes books and indexes checked with dates and subject headings.)
  
  • If you've checked 50 books on a subject you don't have to list them all, but give a general idea, and note the major ones.
  • This is here so the staff who work on your question do not waste time repeating work you've already done.
  • If you don't list READERS' GUIDE, for example, the staff may have to go through it again.
    
    
• DATE REFERRED:
  
  
• COMPLETED DATE:
  
  

Go to A Blank Version of the Reference Question Worksheet.

Back to Completing Referral Forms.

Back to Table of Contents.

This page was updated on December 2, 2003.