Does This Completely Answer Your Question?

"Good information exists when a person receives an acceptable correct answer to a question." Believe it or not, it took two separate reference interview surveys conducted in Maryland to reach this rather self-evident conclusion. An updated version of 1985's Does This Answer Your Question?, this brief program mainly consists of a dramatized reference interview which highlights the four stages involved in answering a reference question: setting the tone, getting the facts, giving the information, and providing follow-up. For those whose attention spans are shorter than an MTV junkie's, the entire dramatic skit is replayed for review. Finally, the tape adds a few pointers about reference telephone calls. Questions such as "how do you determine whether to leave a caller on hold or take a name and number?" or "what do you do when a student calls in and basically asks you to look up their homework questions?" are never asked or answered. In other words, the real day-to-day issues surrounding reference desk work aren't really addressed. There's not nearly enough meat here to serve as a refresher review for a reference desk veteran, and the rookie who went on desk armed with only this much guidance would be lost very quickly, so we're not exactly sure who this tape is for. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: those who own the 1985 version of this program may exchange it for the new one at a cost of $80.] (Available from: ALA Video/Library Video Network, 320 York Road, Towson, MD 21204-5179; (800) 441-TAPE.)