Introducing peer-to-peer reference services in a community college library

Abstract

PurposeThe authors discuss the challenges and successes in implementing a peer reference service model in a community college library.Design/methodology/approachThe authors present a case study about the development of a peer reference service at a community college library. The article includes a chronological overview of the program, a brief literature review, the authors’ own observations, interviews with student employees, comments from librarians working with the students and reference service data. They reviewed local reference service data, conducted a limited review of the literature, interviewed librarians at a university with a peer reference assistance program and incorporated their own observations to create the Pellissippi Ambassadors for Library Success program.FindingsFindings suggest that peer reference services benefit student employees, student researchers and librarians.Research limitations/implicationsThe article does not include a comprehensive literature review.Originality/valueThe study discusses peer reference services in a community college library setting and can be of use to librarians implementing peer reference services.