Virtual Reference Adventure


The Adventure Begins...

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

The Adventure Begins...
Get ready for your Virtual Reference Adventure! Now that you've launched real-time, online reference service for the people who use your library (and maybe some new ones), you're excited about getting started. Just imagine—live chat reference interviews, sharing Web sites, demonstrating library databases, even showing PowerPoint slides—plus a transcript that can be used later by both you and the patron. What happens next?
  1. You'll need a plan for your new service.
  2. Do you know what basic skills are required for chat reference?
  3. What if you are scheduled on chat reference during your first week on the job?
Advice for the trip

Your Lifelines...
The Virtual Reference Desk
Jana Smith Ronan, Chat Reference: A Guide to Live Virtual Reference Services, Libraries Unlimited, 2003.
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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: April 18, 2006