A reference interview is a conversation between a librarian and a library user, usually at a reference desk, in which the librarian responds to the user's initial explanation of his or her information need by first attempting to clarify that need and then by directing the user to appropriate information resources.
A reference conversation is a dialogue between a librarian and a library user, often at a reference station, in which the librarian responds to the user's initial statement about their information requirement by first trying to grasp that need and then steering the user towards suitable resources.