Libraries & Librarians

Journal Article (preprint): “What’s Working and What Isn’t: An Exploratory Study of Current Reference Models in Large Academic Libraries”

September 21, 2025

The article (approved for publication, preprint) is scheduled to appear in portal: Libraries and the Academy (Volume 25, Number 4).

Title

What’s Working and What Isn’t: An Exploratory Study of Current Reference Models in Large Academic Libraries

Authors

William H. Weare
Wichita State University

Jaena Alabi
Auburn University

John Fullerton
Texas A&M University

Source

portal: Libraries and the Academy
Volume 25, Number 4) (preprint)

Abstract

This qualitative research study explored current reference models in academic libraries to determine what’s working well and what isn’t. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 participants overseeing reference services at large, land-grant universities. The findings suggest that there is still perceived value in point-of-need, face-to-face research assistance provided by a librarian or professional staff member at a designated location, although most participating libraries are using a combination of approaches rather than relying solely on this traditional model. The data indicate that there is no one-size-fits-all solution; rather, solutions are context-dependent and develop through incremental changes, often in response to internal and/or external pressures.