Reference / Information Services

Reference Department is staffed with skilled librarians and an efficient support staff who provide research and resource sharing to all of the citizens of the state through their local public libraries and directly to state government employees and officials for their job-related needs. The Reference staff answers specific questions on a wide variety of topics and provides books, periodical articles, microforms, federal and state documents, CD-ROM discs, database searches, professional material, and referrals to other agencies as needed by local librarians and their patrons.

Services to Public Libraries

• Provides answers to reference questions that cannot be filled at the local level
• Fills requests for books that are not owned by the local library
• Fills requests for magazine articles that are not owned by the local library
• Locates reviews of reference of reference material, including electronic services, books, and periodicals
• Locates order information for library materials
• Provides information on Alabama Authors
• Evaluates reference collections
• Visits libraries to explain the services provided by APLS
• Conducts tours of APLS for local library staff
• Supplements the local library collection by providing materials to help with club programs, library programs, school assignments, and leisure activities
• Maintains a professional collection of library related publications

• Provides in-depth research, including electronic searches on job related topics
• Fills requests for specific book titles
• Provides copies of specific periodical articles
• Maintains a collection of study books for state tests
• Sends out material to help with speeches, resumes, letter writings, computer technology, professional development, employee evaluations, business etiquette, management, EEOC, ADA, and other job-related topics
• Provides tours of APLS for state employees in groups or on an individual basis upon request
• Visits to an agency upon request to discuss APLS services