Managing Reference Resources

Reference resources are such a tricky topic for me.  Before taking any LIBE courses, I assumed that I would learn to use and teach others about the importance of using reference resources. However, since taking this class, I have had to rethink my assumptions about print resources.  I had many false assumptions about being a TL in general, but I never thought that students and teachers would not even touch print reference resources. To be quite honest I do not blame them.  My reference collection is at the front of the library and it is on its own shelf.  It is well organized and very visible.  However, I do not think this will help its use.  I have a variety of encyclopedia sets as well, meaning there is some money that has been put into the collection.  Officially I give up on print resources.  I will still encourage staff and students to use the set of Worldbook People and Places, the Illustrated Animal Encyclopedias and the Earth and Science collection we have, but I will not be purchasing anymore print resources.  The best way I could support the reference section at my school is to purchase a few i-pads that could be used strictly as library reference resources.