1.1 Define the precise nature of the enquiry in conjunction with the client

Table of Contents

1. The Reference Interview
2. Finding out what the client wants to know
3. Spoken and written communication
4. Open and Closed Questions
5. Nature of information required
6. Constraints
   1. Deadlines for completion
   2. Deadline problems
   3. Currency of information
   4. Language
7. Special needs
8. Further Information

Currency of information

You must be able to distinguish between two types of information:

• dynamic information is found from regularly updated sources (eg current information on news, weather, government policy, share prices)
• static information which could come from sources which have not recently been updated (eg historical dates, biographies of deceased persons).

You must also ensure that the client is aware of the need to use recently updated sources for dynamic information and the implications which this may have in terms of the timescale and cost of the search.

1

Static and dynamic information Which of the following are dynamic information? a) The author of "Gone with the Wind". b) The departure time of the last flight from Bristol to Milan on Saturdays. c) The origin of the place name "Dublin". d) The birthplace of Winston Churchill. e) The exchange rate of the Euro against the US Dollar. Only the departure time of the latest flight from Bristol to Milan on Saturdays and the exchange rate of Euro against the Dollar are dynamic, as the answers can vary. The others are all static, as they have a single correct answer. Only the departure time of the latest flight from Bristol to Milan on Saturdays and the exchange rate of Euro against the Dollar are dynamic, as the answers can vary. The others are all static, as they have a single correct answer. Your answer has been saved.

Now let's move on to Language ...