Digital reference is a service by which library reference service is conducted online. It is taking reference services usually done at a reference desk at a library to a "virtual" reference desk where the users could find information, get questions answered, and do anything else that they would do at a physical reference desk from home, work or a variety of other locations. Digital reference also can be referred to as virtual reference, digital reference, e-reference, Internet information services, live reference and real-time reference.
According to the American Library Association, digital reference contains three components:
1. Virtual reference is reference service initiated electronically, often in real-time, where patrons employ computers or other Internet technology to communicate with reference staff, without being physically present. Communication channels used frequently in virtual reference include chat, videoconferencing, Voice over IP (VoIP), co-browsing, e-mail, and instant messaging (IM).
2. While online sources are often utilized in provision of virtual reference, use of electronic sources in seeking answers is not of itself virtual reference.
3. Virtual reference queries are sometimes followed-up with telephone, fax, in-person and regular mail interactions, even though these modes of communication are not considered virtual. (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/virtrefguidelines.cfm)
With virtual reference, does this mean that the virual reference librarian (?) will help send documents electronically to those who request it?
ReplyDeleteWith virtual reference will it be possible to have entire library access online in the future, unlike partial access as it is currently?
ReplyDeleteHi Ryan:
ReplyDeleteI saw this announcement and I thought of you. This professor seems like a great guy to possible interview about Digital Reference.
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From: IST LIS Candidates
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 11:19 AM
Subject: [ISTLIS] Future of Virtual Reference
Hi folks, I'm presenting a talk on the future of digital reference next Tuesday at 5 (title and abstract below). I was planning on just sitting in my office and talking to a screen, but talking to real people is still more fun. If I can grab a room would anyone be interested in playing the role of audience? Let me know.
Reference in the Crowd – R. David Lankes
Digital reference allowed us to escape the bounds of a building and any single collection. We have every right to be proud of transitioning reference from desks in the library to the desks of our members (and their phones). And yet much of this new digital freedom has carried over assumptions and policies developed in places and spaces. What we have built with
software, cooperatives, and a mobilized cohort of reference librarians is not an end, but merely a platform for us to truly revolutionize reference. What does answering questions in an interconnected universe of expertise, members, resources, and freedom from the confines of the physical allow us to do? Can we create a whole new reference unrecognizable by our predecessors and infinitely better?
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R. David Lankes, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director Information Institute of Syracuse
School of Information Studies, Syracuse University
http://www.DavidLankes.org
There are two broad categories for digital reference service models:
ReplyDelete1. Asynchronous transaction that involves a time delay between the question and answer. The example tools that use for this broad category are e-mail and web forms.
2. Synchronous transaction that takes place in real-time with an immediate response to the query. The example tools that use for this broad category are chat and video-conferening.