One way that technology is impacting libraries is by forcing a re-evaluation of the reference collection. The more online resources we amass, the less people will use our print resources. We can often find ourselves duplicating our collection, spending money on both formats and using up space, whether virtual or shelf space, to provide these resources.

Some questions we need to ask:

  • How much of our print-based information do we already have access to online?
  • How much of our print-based reference collection do we require just in case our Internet connection goes down?
  • Should our reference collection be large and comprehensive or trim and current?
  • Would our patrons be helped more by using our space for the materials on reference shelves or by additional computer stations?
  • Could we improve our service by paring down our print resources and adding workstations in that same physical space?

The more we add online resources, the more this question will be relevant. As with any other library-related question, it ultimately comes down to, “What can provide the best service to our patrons?” And that question is different for every library.