Types of Reference work:

a) The conservative approach is based on the fact that the users should be instructed on how to use books and libraries rather than on delivery of information. 

b) The liberal approach lays emphasis on the  fact that the users be provided with relevant and necessary information rather than giving the documents itself where the information may be available. Here it is felt that information given to a user should be in a form that permits its immediate use. 

c) The moderate or the in between approach seems to be in most common one in the present day libraries. There is an increased use &bibliographic books and the facility of computer as an information  storage and retrieval device has boosted the liberal approach. The librarians today have access to a vast store of information and knowledge aids including print and non-print media. All these can be exploited to the maximum extent possible to give services to the users. Therefore, a user can acquire the information needed by him either or without the help of the librarian. 

The users in many cases need not come to library. The reference requests of the users can be satisfied even by sending a messenger to the library or on the telephone or by post if these can be effectively conveyed.  Now, this can even be satisfied by electronic mail. 

The reference queries differ from library to library. In most of the public libraries, the type of queries include assistance regarding finding of books from the catalogue or some queries from the general public regarding the public utilities. In the academic libraries, the reference work relates mostly to beaks or queries by students concerning the course conducted by the parent institution of the library. But in the higher level of academic, libraries, special libraries and information units, the reference queries are of intensive kind as the users here are specialised which include professors, researchers, planners, managers, policy makers and senior level