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3 INTRODUCTION This is the information age, where information is available everywhere all the time. With the devices in their pockets, people are able to find, collect, and utilize the information that they seek—no matter when it is needed or where it is located. People can collect statistics on climate change, quote Macbeth, watch the rise and fall of the stock market, read news stories from around the corner and around the world, listen to their favorite music, find out when the bus will reach its stop, fig- ure out which store has the best price on the product they want to purchase, and watch cat videos—all at the same time. Every person with an Internet connection has the power to retrieve the information that they need—so why do we still need libraries? And why do libraries still need reference librarians? There are obviously many answers to those questions—and this book will pro- vide a variety of opinions, options, and actions that will keep libraries and refer- ence services growing and thriving. To fully understand the roles, responsibilities, and continuing need for reference librarians, it is important to look back at the reasons that reference service was established, the things reference librarians have traditionally done, and how those activities have evolved to the present day. THE LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY The library is not an independent institution in and of itself, but it exists to serve and support the community for which it was established. Public librar- ies serve the residents of a defined geographic area, most often a city or county. Chapter 1 History and Functions of Reference Service Dave A. Tyckoson