INFORMACIJSKO-REFERALNA SLUŽBA U NEKOLIKO HRVATSKIH KNJIŽNICA: REZULTATI ANKETNOG PILOT-ISTRAŽIVANJA.

Objective. The aim of this research is to raise awareness of the need for continuous and systematic development of library information services and information-referral services in Croatian libraries, as well as professional development of librarians in this fi eld. Since the information and reference services represent one of the foundations of work in public libraries, the importance of introducing changes in its operation is emphasized, driven by constant changes in society. Methodology. The research utilized a survey method using an online questionnaire. The research was conducted from October 11th to 17th, 2022, and the sample included sixty respondents providing the information service work and information-referral services in four Croatian public libraries. Results. The attitudes of the professional staff regarding the methods of providing information-referral services, education and competencies required for performing these tasks, as well as the organization of the information service, indicate the current state of work in the information service in the surveyed Croatian public libraries. The obtained results primarily express the need for systematic and organized continuous professional development at the national level and familiarity with new trends in information work with library users, materials and sources....Limitations. The sample included only four Croatian public libraries to establish a methodological framework for more extensive research and is therefore of an exploratory nature...Practical implications. The research can be applied to a larger number of Croatian libraries and has practical application in modernizing the organization of information services and developing new business models in their work.....Originality. The originality of the study lies in the fact that recent research on the attitudes of librarians towards providing information-referral services and the functioning of the information service as a fundamental aspect of the operation of public libraries is very rare and occasional.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]