Successful Enquiry Answering Every Time

Successful Enquiry Answering Every Time is designed to guide information professionals through all the stages of research, from finding out what the enquirer really wants, to providing a polished, value-added answer. When people want to satisfy their immediate curiosity they’re much more likely to use a search engine on their mobile device than ask their local library. But while the days of personal intervention in this kind of enquiry are inevitably numbered, the professional skills that underpin them are not. This book uses technology as the enabler of the thought processes that information professionals need to engage in when answering enquiries, and makes the case that new technology, far from making them irrelevant, raises the skill stakes for all. Now in its 7th edition, this book is fully updated to cover new skills, such as: employing critical thinking to manipulate, categorise and prioritise raw search resultsusing strategic reading and abstracting techniques to identify and summarise the essential information the enquirer needs from the retrieved documentsdrawing on established story-telling practice to present research results effectively – whether orally or in writingworking to the POWER model: plan, organise, write, edit, review. This book is ideal for anyone who has to answer enquiries from users in any information role; those working in contact centres who are dealing with information enquiries, processing transactions or trouble-shooting technical issues; and information professionals working on enquiry desks in large or small academic, public, school or special libraries.

"This essential desk-book helps the information professional become self-sufficient in answering enquiries. Step by step, it guides the reader through all the stages of research, from finding out what the enquirer really wants, to providing a polished, value-added answer. Designed as a one-stop manual of techniques, which will be equally effective in large or small libraries and information units, the emphasis is on how to make the best use of limited resources. It includes the author s list of 25 multi-purpose reference sources one can t afford to ignore, and the crucial Success at the enquiry desk enquiry form, which is especially designed to match the book s step-by-step approach to enquiry answering." "This fifth edition of the best selling practical guide is fully revised throughout with new examples and techniques. It illustrates when and when not to use the web, and assesses new developments including blogs, wikis and RSS feeds. It also includes a brand new chapter on acquiring the right tools for the job."--BOOK JACKET.

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 can’t 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.