Article # 2 Blog Post

This article discusses the use of the K-W-L method within the reference interview.  Pattee (2008) describes children as "special patrons" who need extra guidance and assistance when they approach the reference librarian for an interview (pg. 30).  She suggests using the K-W-L method developed by Ogle within the children's reference interview to create a focus for the child's questions based on his or her prior knowledge. 

Pattee describes the K-W-L method, which I have used previously as a teacher before, as the following questions: What do I know? What do I want to know? What have I learned? (Pattee 2008 pg. 34).  I found this method effective when I was teaching English and wanted students to predict outcomes or to use with nonfiction reading, such as articles, for research assignments.  As Pattee states in her article, a reference librarian would engage a child by asking "what the child already knows" about the topic he or she has been assigned or is interested in, and then continuing on with the interview using that information (Pattee 2008 pg. 34).  She mentions that this process of discussing the child's prior knowledge will create an "agenda for seeking information", which I found to be a useful idea (Pattee 2008 pg. 34).  She also mentions looking at the chapters or vocabulary in various books with the child in order to develop a "table of contents for categories of information" (Pattee 2008 pg. 38). I found this idea to be quite useful and I think I will use this in my own library.  It is helpful to develop a list of words that can translate into search terminology online.  The second "phase" of K-W-L is asking the question, "What do I want to know?".  Pattee states that this stage of the method "clarifies the child's information need" for the reference librarian, so that he or she can begin accessing the appropriate information to share with the child (Pattee 2008 pg. 37). This stage fosters the "collaboration between the child and the librarian", and helps the child better focus his or her requests so that the precise reference materials can be located and utilized (Pattee 2008 pg. 38).  During this stage, Pattee also mentioned that the reference librarian may have to "rephrase what the child said" again and again in order to guide him or her on to the correct path (Pattee 2008 pg. 36).  The final stage of the method is analyzing or discussing what the child has learned.  He or she may have been led to the appropriate and "perfect" resource (a specific database, a book, or even a periodical); however, the reference librarian's job does not end there.  Pattee addresses that (as mentioned in the Ross text), "library skills instruction is important" so that the child will continue to grow in his or her own use of library materials and research-based knowledge (Pattee 2008 pg. 36).  I think Pattee's article was helpful in understanding the reasoning behind this method as it could be used in the library.

References

Pattee, A. S. (2008). What do You Know?. Children & Libraries: The Journal Of The Association For Library Service To Children, 6(1), 30-39. Retrieved from: http://0-search.ebscohost.com.wncln.wncln.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=32080777&site=ehost-live