Public Librarian Research Guidance & Consultation Skill
Guide patrons through expert research strategies and information literacy
What You Can Do
Provide comprehensive research guidance to library patrons by creating customized search strategies, evaluating information sources, and developing literacy materials. You can conduct consultations, design reference guides, and help patrons navigate complex research questions across any subject area.
Features
Create tailored research plans for patron inquiries, identifying the best databases, sources, and search approaches for their specific information needs
Generate criteria and checklists to help patrons assess source credibility, authority, and relevance using CRAAP test and similar evaluation methods
Design lesson plans, handouts, and interactive materials for teaching patrons how to search effectively, cite properly, and think critically about information
Generate clarifying questions and conversation templates to help you conduct effective reference interviews and uncover patron's true information need
Create style guides and citation examples for MLA, APA, Chicago, and other formats tailored to specific patron needs and disciplines
Suggest the most appropriate library databases, websites, and resources based on subject, format, and patron skill level
Help patrons transform vague topics into focused research questions with clear scope, keywords, and research objectives
Create curated collections of guides, FAQs, and resource lists organized by popular research topics and patron demographics
Example Output
Research Strategy for "Climate Change and Urban Agriculture"
Recommended Approach:
- Start with scholarly databases: JSTOR, ProQuest Environmental Index
- Add practitioner sources: GreenBuild Magazine, Urban Land Institute reports
- Search terms: "urban agriculture" AND (climate OR sustainability)
Sources to Evaluate:
- Peer-reviewed journals ✓ High credibility
- Government reports ✓ Authoritative data
- Blog posts ✗ Verify against primary sources
Information Literacy Handout
How to Spot Reliable Information (3-minute patron guide)
CRAAP Test:
- Currency: When was it published?
- Relevance: Does it match your research question?
- Authority: Who's the author? What are their credentials?
- Accuracy: Can you verify facts with other sources?
- Purpose: Is the source trying to sell something?
Print and laminate for reference desk distribution.
What's Included
- Reference Interview Templates: Pre-built conversation starters and question sets for conducting effective patron interviews
- Source Evaluation Checklists: Printable guides and frameworks for teaching patrons to assess credibility and relevance
- Database Matching Tool: Quick reference guide correlating research topics with your library's subscription databases
- Citation Style Guides: Customizable handouts for MLA, APA, Chicago, and other citation formats with patron-friendly examples
- Information Literacy Curriculum Outlines: Lesson plans and activity ideas for teaching research skills to different age groups and skill levels
Who It's For
- Public Librarians
- Reference Librarians
- Information Literacy Instructors
- Library Branch Managers
- Community Outreach Coordinators
Best For
- Conducting patron reference consultations
- Creating research guides and handouts
- Developing information literacy programs
- Teaching source evaluation skills
- Building citation instruction materials
You might also like
Streamline your systematic reviews by using Claude to screen abstracts against inclusion criteria, extract structured data from full texts, and synthesize findings across studies. Reduce manual screening time by 60-80% while maintaining rigorous documentation of your review methodology. Claude becomes your collaborative partner throughout the entire evidence synthesis workflow, from protocol planning to final data synthesis.
This skill guides you through systematic reference interviews that uncover patron information needs and develop evidence-based search strategies. You'll learn to ask targeted clarifying questions, assess information-seeking behaviors, and generate tailored resource recommendations. The result: more satisfied patrons, more efficient research outcomes, and consistent, high-quality reference services.
This skill audits research manuscripts and author workflows against open access funder mandates (NIH, NSF, European Commission) and institutional policies. It validates licensing terms, repository suitability, and compliance timelines, then generates detailed remediation guidance to help researchers meet funder requirements and institutional standards.
You systematically verify OSINT source credibility by identifying when secondary sources echo unverified claims, detecting coordinated information laundering across multiple outlets, and establishing audit trails for source evaluation decisions. The framework enables you to generate confidence levels defensible in intelligence briefings, recognize attribution spoofing, and distinguish genuine primary sources from recycled or manipulated information—critical for assessments that inform operational decisions.
You can streamline the entire editorial process by automating peer review coordination, synthesizing reviewer feedback into coherent editorial decisions, and generating professional correspondence at scale. The skill helps you manage manuscript timelines, track reviewer assignments, and produce consistent decision documents that maintain your journal's professional standards while saving hours of editorial work.
This skill provides a comprehensive framework for conducting structured peer reviews that balance technical rigor with constructive feedback. It systematically evaluates code quality, architecture decisions, testing, security, and documentation while delivering specific, prioritized recommendations. You'll ensure consistent, professional review standards across your team and help developers grow through clear, actionable guidance.
This skill analyzes grant requirements, interprets funder regulations, and coordinates compliance workflows for research institutions. You'll receive structured compliance guidance, multi-funder requirement synthesis, deadline tracking, and risk assessments that help you navigate complex sponsored research administration with confidence.
This skill systematically reviews your research proposal against funder requirements, institutional policies, and compliance checkpoints to identify issues before submission. It validates proposal structure, budget justifications, and timelines while flagging common violations that could trigger desk rejections or revision requests. You'll receive a detailed compliance report with specific issues, severity levels, and actionable remediation steps for each funder type.