Virtual reference: Evolution, evaluation, optimizing the link between providers and users. Sponsored by SIG STI, SIG ED, SIG MGT
✍ Scribed by Ruth E. Fenske; Penny O'Connor; Steve Coffman; Charles R. McClure; Bernie Sloan
- Publisher
- Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
- Year
- 2005
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 197 KB
- Volume
- 39
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0044-7870
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Interactive reference service over the World Wide Web is offered now or coming soon at most academic libraries and growing numbers of public libraries. Virtual reference allows library staff to provide a new range of services to remote users, and also to reach a growing number of people who have enthusiastically adopted the World Wide Web as their preferred medium for communicating and conducting business. The web environment offers new opportunities to deliver information. Providers can chat online, guide a user through a search, push web pages, or scan and show pages from print sources.
These capabilities have potential to change the way reference is done. Yet as providers of a real‐world service, library administrators need to measure effectiveness in order to improve the service, and to demonstrate effective use of resources. This panel will explore trends, possibilities and the quality imperative that virtual reference brings.