Overview

This best-selling 'one-stop' practical guide is designed to help all information professionals become self-sufficient in answering enquiries. Step by step, the book guides the reader through all stages of research, from finding out what the enquirer really wants to providing a polished, value-added answer. There's an emphasis throughout on how to make the best use of limited resources and a final chapter offers practical advice on how to set up an enquiry service from scratch or revive a run-down one. This fully updated sixth edition features a brand new chapter on remote enquiry handling by email, SMS and instant messaging. It has cutting-edge coverage of developments in mobile media, social networking, microblogging and e-books. The new Starter Sources section provides an essential and up-to-date list of quality-checked reference sources, on the web and in print. In this edition: What do they really want? (How to make sure you really understand the question.) Flying blind. (Why remote enquiry handling is different.) Getting started (Dealing with the panic thinking clearly.) Smarter searching. (Tips for efficient search strategies.) Help! Everything’s going wrong. (When you cant find the answer and you’re running out of time.) Success! Now let's add some value. (Presenting your answer well is part of the job.) Setting up“ how do you start? (Establishing your own enquiry service from scratch.) Choosing your toolkit. (Resources that you’ll need to run your enquiry service.) Readership: Ideal for anyone who has to answer enquiries from users in any environment, this essential manual is suitable for use in large or small libraries and information units. Anyone working in a contact centre – dealing with information enquiries or processing transactions or trouble-shooting technical issues – should find it useful too. And it's particularly valuable for information professionals and those working on enquiry desks in academic, public, school and special libraries. It doesn't matter whether your job is actually finding answers for people or helping others find the answers for themselves. This book is for you.

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9781856048118

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Reviews

With its cutting edge coverage of contemporary developments, Successful Enquiry Answering Every Time is much more than was ever taught to trainee librarians. It is highly recommended for students, librarians, and library educators and also for anyone who has to answer questions in a contact centre or enquiry desk anywhere. Whether finding answers or teaching others how to find answers, this book is a goldmine of effective ideas. - Australian Library Journal

About previous editions: 'Tim Owen has done a cracking job... This really is a most excellent text. The style is lively without being patronising. This title should be required reading for LIS students...' MANAGING INFORMATION 'This book is on my list of must have titles, order it for your office now!' INFONEWS

Author Information

Tim Buckley Owen BA DipLib MCLIP is an independent writer and trainer with over 40 years' experience of information work - at Westminster Central Reference Library, the City Business Library, and as Principal Information Officer at the London Research Centre. He has also held strategic media and communications posts at CILIP, the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council and the Library & Information Commission.

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