Legislative Reference Services and Sources Book

Here is the first introductory guide to all aspects of providing legislative reference services. Unlike special libraries which deal with one specific discipline, legislative reference bureaus must deal with a full spectrum of subject areas and meet the unique needs of elected and appointed officials and their staffs. This guide helps librarians find the best current resources and services to answer the varied demands for information typical of legislative reference libraries. Legislative Reference Services and Sources facilitates the work of legislative librarians and makes them confident so that they can supply legislators and their staffs with the information needed to effectively examine, draft, or enact legislation of benefit to the public.

No other book on the market provides such a comprehensive overview of legislative reference services. Author Kathleen Low acquaints librarians with over 100 sources useful in responding to information requests from legislators. A wide range of valuable topics are covered that will help legislative reference librarians meet the information demands of legislators and lawmakers including:

• an overview of essential reference services needed by legislators and their staffs
  
• specific protocols and forms of etiquette to observe when promoting services to elected and appointed officials
  
• over 100 frequently consulted titles in legislative references
  
• the usefulness of online resources
  
• how to recognize special services and sensitivity warranted by patrons and the services and responses to expect in return

  Legislative Reference Services and Sources addresses the legislative reference services commonly provided, promotion of services, the librarian/client relationship, client expectations, the ethics of responding to certain requests, and the core resources used in legislative reference requests. It is an invaluable tool for beginning level legislative librarians, public services librarians, and state and federal agency librarians who need an introduction to this unique type of information service.

Library Journal

Legislative reference service is a form of special librarianship and, as such, often includes selective dissemination of information (SDI) and other current awareness services, document delivery, and extended reference and research. Low has written a very good survey, with insightful comments on promotion, marketing, and many other facets of operating a successful legislative information service. She also provides core lists of print and online resources (although it would have been more helpful to include information such as prices and online vendors). Low's warm and informal tone makes this book a pleasure to read. Public and academic librarians will find this book useful for collection development. Recommended for library schools and professionals serving clientele who need information on state legislative processes.-Patrick Ragains, Montana State Univ. Lib., Bozeman