Cyber-reference: How the Internet is Impacting References Services in Jamaican Libraries

The objective of the study is to determine the ways in which the Internet is impacting selected reference services in a sample of Jamaican libraries. It seeks to examine the nature of the changes and make comparison. The literature on reference service and the Internet and Web applications was reviewed to define and identify types and features of reference service and the use of the Internet in service management and delivery. A survey was administered to librarians who provide reference services. The questions covered the profile of the libraries, librarians and the reference services. The data collected revealed that reference services have been undergoing transition in the reference service as the adopt changes brought about by the Internet, however, the many traditional reference services are still evident. It showed that the three types of libraries are developing at different rates but are all using the Internet to conduct and extend reference service.