libraryassisted

Libraryassisted is a term used to describe a library service model in which trained staff actively collaborates with users to locate, evaluate, and apply information resources. The concept encompasses both direct in-person assistance and digitally mediated support such as chat, email, or virtual consultations, and is applied across academic, public, and special libraries. It emphasizes a user-centered approach that pairs professional guidance with independent information-seeking activities.

Its core components include reference and research consultations, information literacy instruction, embedded librarianship in courses, the creation of research guides and tutorials, and guided discovery using catalogs, databases, interlibrary loan, and institutional repositories. Libraryassisted sessions can be one-on-one or conducted in small groups and may tailor strategies to the user’s discipline, task, and level of expertise. Services are designed to help users formulate search questions, identify relevant sources, and critically evaluate information.

Delivery models and tools vary, from traditional reference desks to appointment-based consultations and asynchronous help. Some libraries deploy AI-assisted discovery tools or chat interfaces to triage questions, while maintaining human oversight to ensure accuracy, confidentiality, and ethical use of sources. The model often employs a range of touchpoints, including in-person, remote, and hybrid interactions.

Benefits include higher success rates in finding credible information, shorter research cycles, enhanced information literacy, and greater equitable access to resources. The model supports lifelong learning and can improve learning outcomes in educational settings. Implementation considerations involve staffing and training, privacy and confidentiality, accessibility for users with disabilities, and ongoing assessment of impact through usage data, satisfaction surveys, and outcomes such as improved research quality. Because the term libraryassisted is not widely standardized, libraries may use related phrases to describe similar activities.