Virtual reference-today's fastest-expanding library service-raises many complex policy and implementation questions. Unfortunately, this service is in an early stage and experiences are limited. This groundbreaking volume combines the most current thinking and theory from experts and relates it to real-world virtual reference projects, studies, and findings from libraries across the nation. The editors have arranged the contributions into four distinct parts-Patrons of Digital Reference Services, Digital Reference Librarians, Digital Reference Services and Policies, and The Broader Context of Digital Reference-to highlight the users, staff, services, as well as societal, legal, and political environments within which digital reference services exist. The 13 chapters are based on presentations at the Virtual Reference Desk Conference, the nation's premier event for digital reference practitioners, that have been developed, updated, and refined for inclusion here. They cover design, operation, and marketing of services; user perceptions; training; personal interaction; policies; best practices and guidelines; user surveillance and privacy; and much more. Reference librarians, administrators, and information professionals will find these innovative ideas and practical experiences from the cutting-edge of virtual reference invaluable.

Social web technologies present an often confusing array of options for answering user reference questions. Applying 20 years’ experience as a reference librarian working through the development of virtual reference and the integration of new tools and technologies into the industry, Thomsett-Scott lays out how libraries are using vendor...

A state-of-the-art guide to virtual reference services! This essential book provides a snapshot of virtual reference (VR) services in all kinds of library settings and discusses the issues, trends, and practices involved in offering this kind of service. The chapters go beyond descriptions of services to offer practical advice and suggestions for product selection, policy setting, technical support, collaborative efforts, staffing, training, marketing, budgeting, evaluation, and administration. Case studies, relevant Web sites, and vendor information are included. An ample selection of tables, figures, and illustrations makes important information easy to access and understand. From the editors: “The purpose of this book is to describe the state of the art in virtual reference services, by which we mean real-time, interactive reference service with a librarian, offered online via chat or videoconferencing. Significant players in virtual reference services have prepared chapters for this book. Some of these address virtual reference as a service trend. Others describe services in a variety of settings, including public, academic, and special libraries. Some focus on one aspect of virtual reference, such as statistics/evaluation, policy setting, or the reference interaction. Our intent is to provide an opportunity for reflection on the impact of virtual reference services on librarians, clients, and libraries, as well as to offer a glimpse of the future.” Virtual Reference Services: Issues and Trends addresses topics that will help institutions and VR professionals provide more effective services. Chapters focus on: the principles and concepts of continuous quality improvement (CQI) for virtual reference, such as the Kano Model of user satisfaction—and how it can help libraries improve their VR services a case study of the adoption of VR service at the Suffolk Cooperative Library System in New York, with emphasis on the benefits of maintaining a user-centered perspective to help inform decisions about procedures and services staff selection, structuring the work environment, scheduling, and other VR issues at a large university library collaborative VR services in the state of New Jersey and the development of the “Q and A NJ” initiative and the experiences of two participating public libraries the development and testing of innnovative software developed through a partnership with a high tech company statewide and regional VR collaboration in Florida, with a comprehensive and detailed overview of that state's VR initiatives post-implementation issues such as high call volume, difficult users, training and quality assessment, and service improvement a report from a medical/dental library participating in a multitype library collaborative VR service—with insights on budgeting, training, administration/coordination, morale, marketing, user reaction, and how a health sciences library contributes to (and benefits from) this kind of initiative VR services at The Boeing Corporation a model and framework for collecting and making use of statistical data in a VR service, with AskERIC's implementation as an example the nature of the user-librarian VR interaction, with an insightful analysis of chat transcripts from Carnegie Mellon University how users interact with various services offered on library Web pages, with an illuminating comparison of the use of the library Web site search tool at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale vs. the use of the VR service available on that site

During the last decade, virtual reference has grown from a topic of largely theoretical conversation into a very real and practical library service. This is the latest volume in a groundbreaking series of cutting-edge conference titles which influenced that development, following on from Implementing Digital Reference Services (2002) and The Virtual Reference Desk (2006). Leading experts in the reference field contribute to this new collection, which shares with the reader examples of best practice, forward-looking models, and advice on new developments in virtual reference.The contributors discuss the building of consortia, motivational and coaching techniques for staff, instant messaging options, the creation of subject-specific taxonomies, how to improve interpersonal communications, methods of assessment and much more. A special section of the book introduces the all-new core competencies and standards of the Digital Reference Education Initiative, a funded project to compile training tools from digital reference educators and practitioners. The book is divided into four parts: each chapter offers both practical guidance and the latest thinking about virtual reference work in libraries: Part 1: Starting up - creating your own consortium in less than six months: a true story of virtual reference; and implementing virtual reference on the fly: staff motivation and buy-in. Part 2: Branching out - adding instant messaging to an established virtual reference service; responding to triage taxonomy: answering virtual medical questions; and the evolving role of reference librarians in the health sciences environment. Part 3: Ongoing improvement - examining interpersonal communication in virtual reference encounters: the library LAWLINE consortium; and assessing inappropriate use: learning from the AskColorado experience. Part 4: Pulling it together - virtual reference training - meeting the challenges of reference service in a hybrid environment: teaching LIS students today; and a comprehensive virtual reference training program.

'The Virtual Reference Desk' is based on the peer-reviewed lead papers from the November 2004 virtual reference conference in Ohio. Divided into sections - management, evaluation and standards, technology, resources, research and policy - the book features chapters written by recognized leaders in the reference information field.

Provides librarians with the resources needed to help their patrons use virtual reference sources, with hands-on learning activities, exercises, and assessment tools.

This handbook demonstrates how to adapt traditional face-to-face reference interview skills to the virtual interview, and how to interpret and use new communication techniques - chat slang, IM shorthand, emoticons, etc - to better serve your users.