Incarcerated Services Reference Letter Project

As a burgeoning librarian, providing information is the core of the services we provide. Whatever industry a librarian works in, corporate, museums, galleries, public, academic— at it’s root, one has to know how to provide the correct information for those that ask for it. In my Reference & Instruction class, we helped the Correctional Services department at New York Public Library with fielding their reference questions.

The Correctional Services department provides reference services for incarcerated people from all over the country. As librarians, it is our job to both provide answers to their questions in an unbiased way, while also being wary of misinformation on the internet. As I began to think of it, I wanted my letters to be like a Google search. What would this person find if they googled their question, and how can I best present it to them?

As my reflection of this assignment shows, I found this work both empowering and heartbreaking.

I have also included one example of a reference letter in response to an inquiry about the music industry; how to get started in the industry, as well as the role of Internet platforms. (All identifying information has been removed for privacy reasons).