Reference Interview – Jin HongYa, Subject Librarian, Deputy Director of Reader’s Service Center, Shanghai Library, China
16 February 2016
Name: Jin HongYa
Title: Subject Librarian, Deputy Director of Reader’s Service Center
Institution: Shanghai Library, China
How long have you been at your current library and what do you do there?
In the Shanghai Library I have been working since 1995. From the beginning I have worked in reference services. Since May 2001 I also work in the CORS (Collaborative Online Reference Services). And I am training new librarians for the library every year. At present, I'm in charge of the circulation service of books and periodicals, "One-card-through" Check-out Service, and the industry library (Subject reading room). Sometime I also guide groups visiting the Library – Chinese and foreign groups interested in the Library and its collection.
Why did you decide to become a librarian?
I graduated from the Department of Information Science, Shandong University. After graduating from the University I have been studying information retrieval to be good at database searching. I am very happy when I help readers find the information they need. As a Librarian I always feel proud.
Tell us a bit about reference and information services at your library.
The Shanghai Library was founded in 1952, and the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of Shanghai was established in 1958. In October 1995, the Shanghai Library and the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of Shanghai merged to become a comprehensive research public library and center for industrial information. It is also the branch of the National Cultural Information Resource Sharing Project in Shanghai, the main library of the Shanghai Central Library System, Shanghai Ancient Books Protection Center and the “Pioneer Technology Development Research Center” of the Shanghai soft science research base. All of the above are included in reference services.
What do you think is the most important issue in reference and information services right now?
I think the most important issue in reference and information services is helping people find books and for the book to find someone.