Discussion Questions

Reference Tools for the Information Age: Consumer Medical Resources

Soaring to Excellence

Explain the difference between the general reference interview and the medical reference interview.

Why is it important to remain "neutral" when providing medical reference information?

How far can/should librarians go in answering health reference questions?

How should you respond to the patron who asks about your own medical experiences or for your medical advice?

What is the significance/importance of using disclaimers (verbal or written) when providing consumer health reference?

Where do you find consumer/health/medical books in your public and/or academic libraries?

What is the one medical resource you couldn't live without?

How can libraries best deal with the increasing costs of health reference materials and their declining budgets?

What can you do to help consumer health clients if your library lacks funding for a lot of print consumer health resources or electronic databases?

What do you wish they had told you in school about answering health questions?

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