Information Services Management Committee

From: Susan Routliffe [mailto:sroutlif@library.uwaterloo.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2002 10:03 AM
To: Library Staff; Carolyn Dirks; Lois Clifford; Sam Steiner
Cc: Information Services Management Committee
Subject: Virtual Reference Report

Some of you will know that the Information Services Management Committee(ISMC) conducted a study to determine the feasibility of introducing virtual reference - a way of providing reference service on-line. The study is now complete and a report, with recommendations, is available at: http://library.uwaterloo.ca/staff/ismc/topics/vrfinalreport.html

As a result of the study, ISMC recommended that the Library introduce virtual reference service, as soon as possible and using LSSI Virtual Reference Software. The Library Budgets and Planning Committee supported this recommendation and has approved the funding necessary for the software licence.

ISMC has established a task group (terms of reference are included at the end of the report) to oversee implementation of virtual reference. Doug Morton will chair the task group; other members are Helena Calogeridis, Michele Laing, Paul St- Pierre, Carol Steele, and Marina Wan. Shabiran Rahman will join the group when it begins to consider assessment and feedback mechanisms.

Those who will provide virtual reference service will receive initial training during the week of May 21 and we will begin to offer the service shortly after. For those not directly involved in virtual reference but interested in learning more about it, ISMC will hold an information/demonstration session, as soon as possible but not likely before late June. We will provide more details closer to the time.

If you have questions or comments about the feasibility study or the introduction of virtual reference, please contact me or any other member of ISMC: Helena Calogeridis, Judy McTaggart, Doug Morton, Sue Moskal, Jim Parrott, Richard Pinnell, Mary Stanley, Linda Teather, or Melanie Watkins.

Susan