Required Reading

What Is Reference For?
Joseph Janes
A presentation made at the 2002 ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta as part of the RUSA program entitled "The Future of Reference Services."

1. Read the article above that is marked "Required." If you have time, take a look at the "Recommended" readings below.
   
2. Using your work e-mail account, subscribe to the DigRef listserv. (Directions can be found in Taking the First Steps to Training.)
   
3. Review the Keys to Organizing Your Virtual Reference Desk for some Windows multi-tasking tricks, keyboard shortcuts, and browser tips that will make your virtual reference work more efficient. Choose the skills that you will use most frequently and practice them.
   
4. Read Getting Chatty: Conversation at the Virtual Reference Desk.  Think about what is needed for an effective reference interview using chat.  Read some of the articles on chat and IM that are mentioned.
   
5. Check out the chat answer services at the L.L. Bean and Lands End (Click on Customer Service and look for the Live Help link). These e-retailers provided the inspiration for 24/7 Reference.

Point-of-Need Reference Service: No Longer an Afterthought
Anne Lipow
A presentation made at the 2002 ALA Annual Conference in Atlanta as part of the RUSA program entitled "The Future of Reference Services."

Establishing and maintaining live online reference service
Nancy Kalikow Maxwell
Library Technology Reports, Jul-Aug, 2002, 38 (4). 76 pages
(via Expanded Academic Index, InfoTrac One File, General Reference Center)
A lengthy and well-researched overview of live online reference in all its facets. For this week, read the First Chapter: Introduction to Live Online Reference.

"To Chat or Not to Chat: Taking Another Look at Virtual Reference"
Steve Coffman and Linda Arret
Searcher: the Magazine for Database Professionals
Part 1: July/August 2004 http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/jul04/arret_coffman.shtml
Part 2: September 2004 http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/sep04/arret_coffman.shtml
Coffman and Arret look at the hard decisions that libraries may face as budgets tighten and grant money for virtual reference runs out.