What students need from reference librarians: Exploring the complexity of the individual consultation

The library literature is teeming with articles that address what it takes to be a good reference librarian today, focusing on general competencies, teaching, and providing service at the reference desk and through online venues. Very little has been published, however, about the skills and knowledge that librarians employ in providing individual research consultations, a reference service in which the librarian meets with a student in a scheduled session away from the reference desk. Some have suggested a renewed interest in consultations as an important complement to information literacy programs. This is indeed the case at University of Vermont, where the demand for consultations has increased dramatically in recent years. Here, Magi and Mardeusz discuss what students need from library and explore the complexity of the individual consultation.