The Reference Librarian and the Implications of Mediation

This volume discusses the reference librarian's role as a connecting link between query and the resources that provide a resolution, or between an idea and its realization. "The Reference Librarian and the Implications of Mediation" should help librarians become successful mediators by learning how to provide answers or resources. It should also assist them in understanding the physical surroundings, the social or educational context and the ethical, political and economic climate in which the process takes place. These chapters interpret mediations in its broadest terms to explore diverse topics including traditional mediation, the impact of information technologies and the need for a human context. Chapters also discuss the increasingly diverse group of library patrons requiring mediation services.