Should Reference Books Circulate?

The question was recently asked: Should library reference books circulate?

I am working in a small,l public library, where the buzzing indicates that reference books don't circulate. They sit, gather dust, become old, and are never touched. In our small library, it is rare for kids to do research on site.Therefore, books that just rest on our shelves, waiting to be read in our library, are actually not referring to anyone. They are not being used. They aren't even taken from the shelf. They are just expensive placeholders. If a book isn't referring--is it a reference book at all?

Research indicates that there is a generalized trend for kids everywhere to elect to do their research at home [or at a friend's house or at Borders--anywhere but the library], at random hours. Abraham and Luther (2004) report that today’s children have become accustomed to information that is always available [not just during library hours], adding the following: “After all, the web is 24/7. This expectation is about more than convenience; it indicates a major shift in behavior.” (pp. 34-35). Abram, Stephen & Luther, Judy. (2004). Born with the chip. Library Journal, 129 (8), 34- 37).


As a youth librarian, I can't justify buying books that are just there--"sculptures" to decorate our shelves--even if they are technically called reference books. This is a library policy established for another generation of patrons. The days of following behind tenets established by and for people in the 19th century are over. If libraries continue to do this, we allow ourselves to become museums--like Williamsburg--testimonials of another time in history--shrines. We need to do what works for our 21st Century patrons. I feel that blindly following ancient policies is an inflexible inability to be viable--to continue to grow. Consider a tree: when a tree quits growing, it is dead. I feel that if the library refuses to shift and adapt to new generations of patrons, it essentially quits growing--it dies--it becomes a dinosaur.


I can't speak for all types of patrons; but when it comes to purchases for the Children's Department, I say that libraries should buy good, well-illustrated, attention-grabbing, authoritative information [not just books] that kids will actually use--and let them use them--even at home--or wherever.

I realize that this leads to an entirely different set of needs--how to harness technology and the internet, so that they are actually serving the patrons--and not distracting them. A great deal of research has been done in that area, too. I believe that investigating this research, even though it is time-consuming, is time well spent.