Virtual Reference on a Budget: Case Studies

Use this practical resource to create a virtual reference service in your school or public library using little to no budget money! Learn how to use virtual reference without purchasing expensive hardware and software. Get beneficial resources to help sell virtual reference ideas to administrators and technology coordinators. Find out about providing virtual reference services to special patron populations like hearing-impaired students. These case studies address the knowledge and skills needed for evaluating, acquiring, and using electronic databases, Internet materials, and online services. This book speaks to all librarians—school, public, special, and academic and addresses universal virtual reference needs of library patrons.

About the Author :
Teresa R. Dalston works in the Interdisciplinary Information Science Ph.D. Program at University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Michael Pullin works in the Interdisciplinary Information Science PhD Program at University of North Texas in Denton, TX.

Review :
Overall, I recommend this book to librarians searching for inspiration rather than models. It is most appropriate for those who have already used IM for either social or educational purposes, as the information provided on IM basics is often still complex. I believe that librarians who are moderately tech-savvy, or who have access to technical support, can glean useful options on general types of software, training, and advertising from Virtual Reference on a Budget. Librarians searching for step-by-step guidance on how to implement virtual reference service will find explicit instructions and many examples in this slim but dense volume. The overview of the history of digital reference provides an excellent introduction to the topic, along with definitions of terms, and also offers detailed case studies from middle school, high school, academic, and deaf community settings. The decision model used to establish virtual reference divides the process into seven groups: user needs assessment, resource allocation, technology selection, policy development, staff training, marketing and service promotion, and evaluation. Extensive tables and figures, a glossary, and appendixes of sample forms and training documents complement the text. Librarians who would like to start a virtual reference project in their library but who may not have access to commercial software or to a collaborative regional or statewide effort will appreciate this resource. The writing style varies according to the contributor, but most entries are accessible and straightforward, with a minimum of academic jargon. References and sources cited provide additional reading and Web suggestions for those wishing to delve more deeply. This book stems from an advanced LIS course taken by twenty doctoral students at the University of North Texas SLIS in 2005. The group focused on freely available virtual reference tools for their class projects, and five of the resulting course essays were edited and included here. Virtual Reference on a Budget is useful for any professional librarian whose responsibilities include planning or implementing a virtual reference service at their library. The essays are well-researched and provide extensive bibliographies as well as concrete details, while the case studies include examples from a special needs implementation, K-12 libraries, and an academic library. Public libraries are notably absent, however, the findings presented should extend to all types of libraries. Also included is a detailed step-by-step description of the process of setting up a virtual reference service, although Virtual Reference on a Budget is not a technical title. Recommended for purchase for academic libraries, as well as for the personal libraries of professional librarians with an interest in the topic.