Evaluating Electronic Reference Services

Summary

As electronic reference services become routine in many libraries, it is time to systematically examine how they are being implemented and used. Unfortunately, few libraries have rigorously examined their electronic reference services. We still know very little about who uses electronic reference services or why. We also do not know how satisfied our users are with the new services we are providing. This article provides an overview of the chief methodologies available for conducting assessments of electronic services (e.g., surveys, usability studies, observation, etc.). Existing criteria for evaluating reference services are discussed with suggestions for how they can be applied or adapted to the online service environment.     

Definitions for Planning and Evaluating Reference Services

No abstract available for this article.     

Reference Costs and Reference Services:

No abstract available for this article.     

虚拟参考咨询服务系统评价的理论探讨

认为虚拟参考咨询服务作为一个完整的系统，应该包括系统平台建设、信息资源组织、服务开放度、咨询服务质量、系统规章制度建设5个部分。以改进参考咨询服务的质量和提高咨询服务效率为中心，对建立虚拟参考咨询服务的评价指标问题进行讨论。     

Reference Services:

Research on reference service is still in the beginning stage. Librarians must select appropriate methodologies and carefully analyze the data collected in order to evaluate and improve reference service. Good measures are valid, reliable, practical and useful; standards must also be carefully chosen because so much assessment of effectiveness depends upon subjective values. Data collection strategies include quantitative measures derived from the experimental sciences and qualitative measures derived from the social sciences, including familiar methods such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews and case studies. These measures are discussed in terms of their appropriateness for reference service evaluation with citations to published studies.     

Electronic Reference Services:

No abstract available for this article.     

Complex Reference Services:

Reference services for data files used in quantitative social research are complicated by several facts. Providing assistance requires specialized knowledge of how the data were collected, how they are organized and how they will be used. Data files cannot be used at all without the requisite computing support. This article presents an overview of the literature on reference services for social research, differentiates between data for information and data for research, suggests a general approach to providing services for these materials based on traditional archives and government documents reference, and gives a practical framework for handling queries.     

传统参考咨询与网络参考咨询的比较研究

传统参考咨询和网络参考咨询在内涵、地位与作用、参考信息源、用户服务、用户与咨询人员、管理模式等方面都有所不同。传统参考咨询是网络参考咨询的基础,网络参考咨询是传统参考咨询的继承与发展。网络参考咨询代表着机遇、未来和数字图书馆发展的潮流,它将成为图书馆应对挑战,保持可持续发展的战略性选择。表4。参考文献16。     

Weeding and Evaluating the Reference Collection:

This study examined the reference collection weeding and evaluation practices of a selected group of academic, public, and county library systems. Results revealed that only two of the fourteen libraries had written guidelines specifically for reference, and only one of these was a complete document. The most common unwritten criteria for weeding related to age and use of materials, and most libraries conducted systematic evaluation of the reference collection, primarily by means of comparisons to checklists or standard lists of recommended titles. However, most libraries did not regularly conduct formal use studies. The use of CD-ROM reference tools, which was fairly widespread and well accepted, was expected to have an increasingly significant impact on reference collection development in the future. Major findings are summarized, and a list of questions provided for further study and research.     

数字化参考咨询服务的发展与问题

国外图书馆参考咨询工作正在从面对面的直接交流向以网络为基础的虚拟转化。要实现虚拟参考服务 ,必须建立知识库 ,必须利用虚拟参考产品 ,必须开展馆际合作。图 1。参考文献 6。     

Ethics and Reference Services

Abstract

Reference archivists face challenging ethical dilemmas in the course of seemingly mundane daily tasks. While newly revised ethical codes provide helpful guidelines, there are many ethical questions without clear answers. Rapidly evolving technology, changing expectations, and inconsistent privacy laws place pressures on reference work. These issues also open a window on the society whose cultural property archivists manage.     

Reference Librarians and Technical Services Librarians:

The relationship between reference librarians and technical services librarians has often been strained. In our changing technological and organizational environment, it is imperative that reference librarians and technical services librarians share responsibility for improving this relationship. One way for this to take place is for individuals to become more "accountable" to their colleagues. This article provides accountability guidelines for both reference and technical services librarians which, if followed, can result in increased communication and a better understanding of the roles, concerns, and needs of both reference and technical services librarians.     

Cooperation in a Multi-Faceted Reference Department: Blending Resources,Personnel, and Services of Reference,Instruction, Interlibrary Loan,and Government Documents

SUMMARY

Cooperative reference is a valuable approach to serving patrons as well as a means of expanding one's professional knowledge. Members of the reference unit actively participate in cooperative reference for answering patrons' tougher queries, bibliographic instruction, and reference collection development. The cooperative efforts of our unit have expanded our ability to find better information faster. Cooperative reference extends to all librarians within the University Library as each librarian serves in a rotation to staff the reference desk on nights and weekends. Some of the benefits of practicing cooperative reference are the following: providing a balanced and sometimes more complete answer to a reference question; increasing the knowledge of the reference staff by sharing experiences; and increasing morale and support for the reference staff. All of this is accomplished by doing what librarians do best: sharing. Successful cooperative reference relies upon good communication within the department, respect for colleagues, flexibility, and commitment to serving our patrons.     

Evaluating Reference Librarians

No abstract available for this article.     

Virtual Reference Services

Summary

Traditional reference services are changing in response to the rapid growth of electronic resources available outside of the library. There are an increasing number of libraries that are providing digital reference services to meet the demands and expectations of remote users. This article provides an overview of virtual reference services at Louisiana State University (LSU) Libraries. It also examines the planning, implementation, marketing and user feedback of real time reference service after its first year.     

数字化参考咨询服务

文章介绍了数字化参考咨询服务的主要形式，相关技术和典型项目，包括基于电子邮件，基于实时交互的和基于合作的数字化参考咨询，并简要分析相应的组织管理问题。     

Virtual Reference Services

Abstract

Researchers performed a cost and benefit analysis of the University of South Florida's locally controlled chat service and compared the results to the advantages and expenses associated with a chat consortium. An evaluation of chat sessions revealed that a substantial portion of the inquiries received relate to university-specific interests. In addition to the local nature of chat questions, library staff used USF statistics to estimate the staffing, software, and training costs of the current chat reference service. The collaborative service under consideration involves both additional costs and benefits. A final decision, however, requires an in-depth assessment of several factors. Supplementary factors in this examination include a brief history of USF virtual reference service and the current trends in instant messaging that support the continuance of chat reference.     

Online Reference Services

No abstract available for this article.