an article by Kealin M. McCabe and James R.W. MacDonald (University of Northern British Columbia) published in Partnership: the Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research Volume 6 Number 2 (2011)
Abstract
Roaming reference service was pursued as a way to address declining reference statistics. The service was staffed by librarians armed with iPads over a period of six months during the 2010-2011 academic year. Transactional statistics were collected in relation to query type (Research, Facilitative or Technology), location and approach (librarian to patron, patron to librarian or via chat widget).
Overall, roaming reference resulted in an additional 228 reference questions, 67% (n=153) of which were research related. Two iterations of the service were implemented, roaming reference as a standalone service (Fall 2010) and roaming reference integrated with traditional reference desk duties (Winter 2011). The results demonstrate that although the Weller Library’s reference transactions are declining annually, they are not disappearing. For a roaming reference service to succeed, it must be a standalone service provided in addition to traditional reference services.
The integration of the two reference models (roaming reference and reference desk) resulted in a 56% decline in the total number of roaming reference questions from the previous term. The simple act of roaming has the potential to reinvigorate reference services as a whole, forcing librarians outside their comfort zones, allowing them to reach patrons at their point of need.
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Showing posts with label reference_services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reference_services. Show all posts
Monday, 5 March 2012
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Virtual references services: defining the criteria and indicators to evaluate them
an article by María Pinto (University of Granada, Spain) and Ramón A. Manso (Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas, Cuba and University of Granada, Spain) published in The Electronic Library Volume 30 Issue 1 (2012)
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse the common features of the virtual reference services provided by European and American libraries in order to evaluate the service from the user’s perspective, taking into account the potential of Web 2.0 applications.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts a quantitative approach, to contribute to better understanding of the problems currently facing virtual reference services and offers solutions to them. The study also combines qualitative methodologies.
Findings
The study reports that virtual reference services in university communities have not changed significantly since they first appeared, and highlights the need to incorporate new technologies.
Originality/value
The paper draws attention to certain features of virtual reference services that are undervalued or have not attracted research interest, and calls for a technological shift in the services provided to users from the academic communities involved in this study.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse the common features of the virtual reference services provided by European and American libraries in order to evaluate the service from the user’s perspective, taking into account the potential of Web 2.0 applications.
Design/methodology/approach
This research adopts a quantitative approach, to contribute to better understanding of the problems currently facing virtual reference services and offers solutions to them. The study also combines qualitative methodologies.
Findings
The study reports that virtual reference services in university communities have not changed significantly since they first appeared, and highlights the need to incorporate new technologies.
Originality/value
The paper draws attention to certain features of virtual reference services that are undervalued or have not attracted research interest, and calls for a technological shift in the services provided to users from the academic communities involved in this study.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Viable or vital? Evaluation of IM services from patrons’ perspectives
an article by Jung-Jung Chang and Chyan Yang (National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan) published in The Electronic Library Volume 30 Issue 1 (2012)
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this study is to gather information from library patrons to answer the questions of whether real-time reference services (instant messaging, IM) are beneficial to patrons and how valuable they are to fulfilling their task needs. The study was designed to elicit information about how patrons were dealing with the rapidly changing technological environment, and how helpful they felt IM reference services were to them.
Design/methodology/approach
The investigation uses the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the basic framework and extends it by the variable of perceived relevance (PR) which intends to extend understanding of the adoption of IM services. The sample consisted of three university libraries’ patrons on the basis of convenience, and 323 usable responses were obtained.
Findings
This research found general support for TAM. Specifically, the findings show that perceived ease of use of IM services is the key factor for the patrons’ attitudes about the IM service. Overall, the model explained 58 percent of the variance in behaviour intention. Thus, the results show that the proposed model does satisfactorily explain the adoption of the IM service.
Originality/value
The findings of this research provide some useful insights into a patron’s behavioural intention toward adoption of an IM service which will stimulate thought about real-time reference services that could be offered by other libraries. And it will be valuable for better understanding of factors affecting the determinants of IM acceptance, which allows libraries to devise more effective approaches to improving the patrons’ perceptions of a target system and thereby boost subsequent acceptance of the system.
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this study is to gather information from library patrons to answer the questions of whether real-time reference services (instant messaging, IM) are beneficial to patrons and how valuable they are to fulfilling their task needs. The study was designed to elicit information about how patrons were dealing with the rapidly changing technological environment, and how helpful they felt IM reference services were to them.
Design/methodology/approach
The investigation uses the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the basic framework and extends it by the variable of perceived relevance (PR) which intends to extend understanding of the adoption of IM services. The sample consisted of three university libraries’ patrons on the basis of convenience, and 323 usable responses were obtained.
Findings
This research found general support for TAM. Specifically, the findings show that perceived ease of use of IM services is the key factor for the patrons’ attitudes about the IM service. Overall, the model explained 58 percent of the variance in behaviour intention. Thus, the results show that the proposed model does satisfactorily explain the adoption of the IM service.
Originality/value
The findings of this research provide some useful insights into a patron’s behavioural intention toward adoption of an IM service which will stimulate thought about real-time reference services that could be offered by other libraries. And it will be valuable for better understanding of factors affecting the determinants of IM acceptance, which allows libraries to devise more effective approaches to improving the patrons’ perceptions of a target system and thereby boost subsequent acceptance of the system.
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