Access Services Education in Library and Information Science Programs

Abstract

This article defines the elements of Access Services, explains the importance of those aspects in the library, and proposes a course centered on Access Services for library schools. The areas of circulation, interlibrary loan, course reserves, collection maintenance, and public relations are core components of Access Services. Each of those segments is a key aspect of a library's effectiveness and has a direct effect on a patron's perception of the library. Based on analysis of ALA-accredited Library and Information Science programs and their course catalogs, Access Services has not received the same attention as other areas of librarianship such as reference, cataloging, or archives. A course centered on Access Services would focus on each aspect of an Access Services librarian's job, using real-life experiences, scholarly publications, and new technologies to prepare students for success in the workplace.

KEYWORDS:

• Access services
• library education
• circulation
• reserves
• interlibrary loan
• librarianship
• marketing