Making the Connection: The Telephone as a Creative and Potent – but Underutilized – Instrument for Reference Service

In recent years, reference librarians have properly accorded online and CD-ROM services much attention. But the first, simplest, and often most effective telecommunications tool available to reference librarians is the familiar telephone. Unfortunately, many reference librarians do not fully utilize the great potential of the telephone as an information-gathering tool either because they lack long-distance calling capability or are reluctant to use it. Reference librarians lacking the long-distance connection are urged to work toward making it available. Examples of how the telephone can be used to expand the reference librarian’s reach are provided.