Digital reference: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:35, 7 March 2016

Revision as of 06:30, 7 March 2016

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With the advent of the graphical [[World Wide Web]], libraries quickly adopted webforms for question submission. Since then, the percentage of questions submitted to services via webforms has outstripped the percentage submitted via email.

In the early- to mid-1990s, digital reference services began to appear that were not affiliated with any library. These digital reference services are often referred to as “AskA”"AskA" services. Examples of AskA services are the [[Internet Public Library]], [http://mathforum.org/dr.math/ Ask Dr. Math], and [http://americanart.si.edu/search/search_ajoa.cfm Ask Joan of Art].

Providing remote-based services for patrons has been a steady practice of libraries over the years. For example, before the widespread use of chat software, reference questions were often answered via phone, fax, email and audio conferencing. Email is the oldest type of virtual reference service used by libraries.<ref name="Kern" /> Library services in America and the UK are just now gaining visibility in their use of virtual reference services using chat software. However, a survey in America revealed that by 2001 over 200 libraries were using chat reference services.<ref name="Chow">{{cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=G.G. |title=Librarianship: an introduction |place=London |publisher=Facet |year=2008|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

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*Don't panic. While speed is important it is more important to not feel rushed.<ref>Anderson, Rick. "IM Me", Library Journal 130 (April 1, 2005): 34-35.</ref>

At times, IM becomes challenging because of lack of non-verbal cues such as eye contact, and the perceived time pressure. Moreover, formulating the question online without the give and take of nonverbal cues and face to face conversation presents an added obstacle. In addition, to provide effective reference service through IM, it is important to meet higher level of information literacy standards. These standards include evaluating the information and its source, synthesizing the information to create new ideas or products, and understanding the societal, legal, and economic issues surrounding its use.<ref>Desai, Christina M. & Graves, Stephanie J. “Instruction"Instruction via Instant Messaging reference: what’s happening?”", The Electronic Library 24 (2) ( 2006): 174-189.</ref>

==Software for providing digital reference==

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==References==

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==Further reading==

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;International

* [http://liswiki.org/wiki/Chat_reference_libraries Chat reference libraries]

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