According to S.R. Ranganathan, a ready reference service is a service that is provided within a very short time, if possible within a moment. Time is the main criterion for such a service. According to Ranganathan, most ready reference services are provided within a few minutes, some take longer, but usually never more than half an hour. It is also known as a ‘fact finding’ service, because it mainly answers questions about facts or facts. A ready reference service is asked a variety of questions, and he answers them using various sources of information. Lewis Shores has given a list of these questions and the methods used to answer them:

Need for Ready Reference:

S. R. Ranganathon has mentioned three main reasons for providing ready reference services, which are:

1. Nature of reference books: There is a difference between reference books and ordinary books. Ordinary books are written to be read in full or in one go, but reference books are not. They are mainly used for specific information. Inexperienced readers do not know how to use such books. Many do not have a clear idea about what kind of information a reference book contains or how to get information from them. Moreover, the destruction of information and the discussion of the subject and the reference book are different. It is the responsibility of the reference librarian to familiarize the reader with the rules for using such reference books.
2. Nature of the inquirer: There are generally three types of inquirer, absentee inquirer, irregular user and regular user. Absent inquirer cannot be physically present at the library for some reason or the other. For this reason, they try to use information using telephone, letter, email or web form. Considering the needs of the service recipient, the reference library also has to provide service to such readers using telephone, email or any such medium. People of general research, government officials, journalists etc. take this method of service.The second group consists of irregular or casual users. They may be famous people, foreigners or scholars, who are interested in using the library and ask questions about various aspects. The reference librarian has to answer their questions. Finally, there are regular users. Among them are the old and experienced members of the library. Being experienced, they can use the reference materials without any help. However, sometimes due to lack of time, they have to resort to the reference staff. Especially new members take more help from the library staff. The reference staff trains them in the use of library resources and in this way they eventually become proficient in using the reference materials themselves.
3. National Economy: Sometimes the questions on a subject are of the same type. As a result, many users ask these questions, which are either homogeneous or repetitive. For example, during a local event or event, many readers ask the same type of questions. If readers come to the reference library with these questions separately, they waste many hours of their work. If the reference library itself prepares the answers to these questions in advance, then the time and effort of the readers or researchers will be saved and as a result the national economy will benefit.

Method of providing ready reference service:

There are three stages in providing such service: preparation, service and assimilation. These are briefly discussed below:

1. Preparation: The library should have a rich collection of reference materials to answer the various questions of the reader. These materials should be updated regularly so that they contain the latest information. When new editions of reference materials are released, they should be collected as soon as possible and the library should be aware of the complete reference collection. Isadore Mudge said, ‘An ignorant reference worker can render useless service from the best collection, but a skilled reference worker can render amazing reference service from a few basic books’. Temporary sources such as daily newspapers, paper clippings, prospectuses, folders, Boucher etc. should be stored in separate files in such a way that the desired material can be quickly found whenever needed. They can be stored in any order, including chronological, chronological, or chronological order. However, they should be properly titled, regularly reviewed, and irrelevant and unnecessary material should be removed.
2. Service: Service can be of three types –
3. A.Training the reader in information search: The reader should be instructed on how to use ready reference materials correctly. This service is especially needed by new and inexperienced users, because through this they can acquire the ability to use reference materials independently in the future.
4. B. Making arrangements so that the reader can be self-reliant: The reader often seeks guidance from the librarian to reach the right information source. The librarian then searches for the relevant information source for the reader and explains its usage. As a result, the reader acquires the skills to use those sources independently.
5. C.Providing accurate information: Whatever the type of library, the reader wants to get the information he needs accurately. For this, the librarian needs to know exactly what information the reader is looking for. After being sure about the subject or related reference material, the reference librarian decides how to find the specific information. Then the information is retrieved from the information source and communicated to the reader. If the reader is not physically present, arrangements are made to inform him as soon as possible.
6. Assimilation: According to D. J. Foskett, ‘Perhaps the most basic qualification in reference service is experience, through which a librarian acquires the simple skills that lead him to the right path to reach the information he wants’. The reference questions he faces every day should be discussed with his colleagues. When the staff in the reference department sit together and discuss reference problems, their problem-solving skills improve. They should also participate in regular meetings and conferences. Reference librarians should have a clear idea of ​​the sources of bibliographic information, the various festivals of information including the union catalog. Moreover, they should also be book lovers themselves, have a deep love for books and information knowledge. The reference librarian should keep a record of the reference queries he/she encounters every day. This record will be useful for him/her in providing reference services later.

In conclusion, ready reference service emphasizes speed, accuracy, and user-centered assistance, making time the most critical factor in meeting immediate information needs. By combining well-organized resources with skilled reference librarians, libraries ensure effective information access, user education, and overall support for research, learning, and national development.

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