Contents: Foreword to edition 1. I. Introduction: Conspectus. 1. Reference service experience as a student. 2. Reference service experience as a teacher. 3. Reference service experience as an adult user of library. 4. Observation of reference service. 5. Practice of reference service. 6. Genesis of the Book. 7. Suggestions to beginners and teachers. II. Emergence of reference service: 1. Reference service and the laws of library science. 2. Evolution of library. 3. Functions of a library. 4. New Library techniques. 5. Why of reference service. 6. Closer view of reference service. 7. Message of Holism. III. 1. What of initiation. 2. Why of initiation. 3. How of initiation. 4. Initiation in college library. 5. Initiation in school library. IV. General help to general reader: 1. Introduction. 2. Difficult reader. 3. Difficult material. 4. Modern book. 5. Ancient work. 6. Play with title. 7. Intangible qualities. 8. Difficult reference librarian. V. Mystic picture of reference service: 1. Introduction. 2. Light from the Vedas. 3. Light from Valmiki. 4. Light from the "mother" of Aurobindo. 5. Light from Sanskrit. VI. Ready reference service: 1. What of ready reference service. 2. Why of ready reference service. 3. How of ready reference service. 4. Preparation for ready reference service. 5. Service in ready reference service. 6. Assimilation in ready reference service. VII. Find me out: 1. Introduction. 2. Enquiries during one month. 3. 108 facts to find. VIII. Reference book: What of reference book. 1. Emergence of reference book. 2. Scope of reference book. 3. Up-to-date-ness. 4. Arrangement. 5. Alphabetical arrangement. 6. Classified arrangement. 7. Mixed arrangement. 8. Structure and contents of a reference book. IX. Long range reference service: 1. What of long range reference service. 2. Why of long range reference service. 3. How of long range reference service. 4. Preparation. 5. Service in long range reference service. 6. Assimilation in long range reference service. 7. Structure and contents of a bibliography. X. Illustrative actualities: 1. General observation. 2. Palmyra's uses enquiry. 3. Pre-Columbian Hindu colonisation of America. 4. Pamban bridge enquiry. 5. Devil worship of tuluva enquiry. 6. Shadow plays enquiry. 7. Kra Canal enquiry. 8. Deferred ego-less joy. Bibliography. Index.