The State of Reference Collections

Sage conducted research that shows that the introduction of new technologies, the pervasive nature of free internet sources, and tightened budgets have caused librarians to conceive of and purchase reference differently. Reference service, whether it is provided at a service desk or via research consultations, remains necessary because patrons are overwhelmed by the abundance of information, leaving librarians to serve as research guides who may point patrons to reference resources without ever referring to them as “reference.” Future changes in the nature of reference are anticipated as librarians begin to expect reference to look and feel like any other information resource, rather than feeling like a print-based, stagnant, and protected resource. This white paper addresses each of these areas as they relate to public, academic, government, medical, health, and corporate libraries in Asia, Europe, South America, and North America.