SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply reference skills 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
244277  Apply reference skills 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Library and Information Studies 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language Information Studies 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  6 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
The qualifying learner will be capable of applying effective reference skills and responding to users appropriately as the first point of contact in the library.

Learners accredited with this Unit Standard will be capable of:
  • Identifying information required by a user.
  • Identifying and selecting appropriate information resources in response to a user's need.
  • Provide the required information/materials to the user. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that a learner will be competent in:
  • Communication at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.
  • Basic information literacy at NQF Level 5 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify information required by a user. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The reference interview process is explained in accordance with standard sector practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The nature of the information required is determined by conducting a reference interview. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The information need is interpreted and confirmed by verifying with the user. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The complexity of the information need is determined using a reference interview. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Referral skills are applied if necessary in relation to the information requested and organisational policies. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify and select appropriate information sources in response to users need. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Range of sources includes, but is not limited to:
  • Print, electronic and internet. 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A range of potentially appropriate information sources are identified according to the available organisational information resources. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Sources are compared for information which is relevant to the user's information need. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The appropriate information source is selected based on the scope and depth of the user's information need. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    If the user's requirements cannot be satisfied, possible alternatives are suggested or appropriate action is taken. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of alternatives includes, but is not limited to:
  • Referral to subject experts, inter-library loans and other service sections.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Provide information or material to the user. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Information or material is presented in a context or format appropriate to the user's need. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Material is provided within National, Local and institutional legislation, codes and policies. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Range of legislation, codes and policies includes, but is not limited to:
  • Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000, Copyright Act 98 of 1978, Films and Publications Act 65 of 1996 and institutional codes and policies.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The successful completion of the reference query is determined by user's response. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Any additional user requirements in relation to the requested information are identified and appropriate action is taken to satisfy the requirements. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • External Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA at its discretion.
  • The accredited Training Provider will oversee internal moderation of assessment.
  • Internal and external moderation should encompass achievement of the integrated competence described in this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The reference interview process.
  • Reference sources.
  • Information literacy.
  • Information and communications technologies.
  • Institutional policies, procedures and codes. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems associated with responsible decision-making and creative thinking in applying reference skills. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a LIS work team to provide reference services and referral services if necessary. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using appropriate modes of oral and/or written persuasion in conducting the reference interview. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world, as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving occurs in a variety of Library and Information Services contexts. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
  • Assessors must be registered with a relevant ETQA or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessors must be in possession of a Qualification related to LIS or a related sub-field of Communication and Language Studies at a minimum of NQF level 6. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58624   National Certificate: Library and Information Services  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2015-03-13  ETDP SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. NTI College 
    2. SEOPOSENGOE TRAINING CONSULTANCY CC 
    3. Tembe Service Providers 
    4. Universal Knowledge Software 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.