Virtual Reference Adventure


The Adventure Begins...

Things You'll Need
Along the Way

A Plan picture
Basic Skills
Training
Partners
Marketing
Policies
Evaluation
Interview Skills
InfoLit
Awareness
About this site...

Basic Skills Needed...
Whether you personally are delivering chat reference or are recruiting and selecting staff to be providers, you need to understand core competencies—the essential skills necessary for high-quality service. The face-to-face reference experience is the best foundation for chat service, but the online environment with its lack of visual and auditory cues may require additional knowledge, skills and aptitudes. The resources on this page identify basic skills. What happens next?
  1. After a four-hour committee meeting, it's time to take a break!
  2. You think you are ready for staff training.
  3. But you realize that you need to upgrade your Internet searching skills.
Advice for the trip

Your Lifelines...
Core Competencies for Virtual Reference (Washington State VRS Project)
Competencies for Digital Reference (DREI)
Staffing Your New Virtual Reference Service
Think About Ask Yourself More to Explore
Take a Break
Developed by the Statewide Virtual Reference Project, Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act.

Last Modified: September 12, 2006