ABSTRACT
A quick glance at the position announcements listed in a variety of professional journals reveals what most academic reference librarians have known for a long time: reference positions are among the most demanding professionally. While this, in part, may be due to the difficult but rewarding public service aspects of the work, I feel that the increasing diversity of roles that a reference librarian is asked to undertake adds immeasurably to the demands placed upon the individuals who fill these positions. William Miller recently has presented cogent arguments against the unplanned proliferation of various reference-related services; 1 yet even without expanded services, an up-to-date, professionally active academic reference librarian is usually asked to wear several professional hats. This in itself can be difficult for entry-level librarians, who often are not accustomed to juggling multiple demands for their time. The problem becomes more acute when one realizes the widely different nature of the roles these librarians are asked to fill, and the corresponding competencies or skills that are necessary to perform adequately.
