REFERENCE SERVICES FOR FACULTY ANDSTUDENTS OF UAE AND INDIA

Libraries are important and have different uses for different individuals. Libraries cultivate reading habits and promote progress of knowledge. However library is a perfect place to indulge in the pleasure of reading and for researching. Now a days librarians provide complete assistance and guidance with researching and navigating information. Another challenge to library professionals is keeping themselves up to date in terms of technology skills to work in the online environment effectively and efficiently. Though the communication and interpersonal skills required are same for both traditional and online forms of reference service the absence of physical presence of the library user and different new modes of communication demand for additional and new set of skills effort of training to offer quality services. Working librarians at reference desk can take advantage of the experiences of researchers and practitioner reported in the published literature to develop a model online reference desk that suits to their clientele and environment.