220 likes | 382 Views
Ask a Librarian service in National & University Library of Slovenia. Gorazd Vodeb M.A. National & University Library Reference Dept., Head. National & University Library. Established in 1774 as first public library
E N D
Ask a Librarian service in National & University Library of Slovenia Gorazd Vodeb M.A. National & University Library Reference Dept., Head
National & University Library • Established in 1774 as first public library • Starts collecting legal deposit in 1807, legal status of national library in 1945 • New law in 2006 requires legal deposit of electronic publications
National & University Library • Production of national bibliography (free internet access) • ISBN, ISSN and ISMN agencies • Web site and gateway for online services http://www.nuk.uni-lj.si • OPAC http://www.cobiss.si select National library
National & University Library • Digital library of Slovenia http://www.dlib.si • Current and historically important journals, maps, photographs, sound recordings, posters • Digital collections and OPAC included in European Library portal, founding member
National & University Library • Plethora of licenced information sources: electronic journals, subject bibliographies, e-books etc. • Remote access • COSEC - Consortium of Slovenian Electronic Collections
Special collections • Manuscript collection • Music collection • Map and pictorial collection • EU collection • AV collection • Serials • Slovenian Diaspora Publications
Other user departments • Loan • Interlibrary loan • Information center • Etc.
Some numbers • 13 865 members • 568 634 loans, in-house usage included • 255 seats in reading rooms, 33 workstations • Overall acquisition around 134 000 physical units in 2006 • 2 mio volumes
Building • One of the greatest masterpieces of architect Jože Plečnik, full of symbolic meanings • Constraints… • New building in plan
Ask a librarian service • Information center participate in two services • 3 + 1 reference librarians and head • Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • NUK service “Ask National & University Library”
Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • Initiative by IZUM (COBISS library automation system provider) • Started in 2005 • Three groups • Public libraries • Higher education libraries • IZUM
Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • Web page http://home.izum.si/izum/qp/default.htm • Users ask questions via web form, must select group to answer • Users can chat with librarian from 9 am to 3 pm Mon-Fri, must select group to chat with
Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • Special schedule • Public libraries group: Ljubljana Sat-Mon, Nova Gorica Tue, Celje Wed, Novo Mesto Thu, Maribor Fri • Higher education group: Nat. & Univ. Lib Sat-Mon, University Library Maribor Tue, Central Technological Library Wed, Central Economics Library Thu, Central Medical Library Fri/2 • IZUM
Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • Supported by Questionpoint, all participants share one Service Unit Profile • Translation and administration by IZUM • Management body of participating libraries and IZUM declares schedule, policy, procedures etc.
Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • 1218 questions asked in 2006 • 1251 chats in 2006
Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • Types of questions • Thematic questions for seminars, projects, diplomas • General questions about library services • Availability of books, loans extensions etc. • Bibliographic information • Factual information • Bibliographic issues for academic/research qualifications • Reader’s advice (what to read)
Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • Chat • Specific demands • User will wait for answer few minutes maximum • Suits best for quick answers • Not suitable for difficult questions • Requirements on staff time
Cooperative service “Ask librarian” • Reference policy: source only union catalogue and public internet • Nonspecific questions for specialised libraries • Aimed at slovenian users
“Ask National & University Library” • Started in November 2006 • Web form for questions • Folder in Microsoft Exchange • Aimed also at foreign users
“Ask National & University Library”: reference policy • Foreign public: “…questions about Slovenia or Slovenes, our services or products…” • Domestic public: we provide in addition information about social science and humanities literature • Use licenced information sources where appropriate
“Ask National & University Library” • Several questions per day • Generally more questions about NUL services • Use of services (How to…) • Bibliographic information • Thematic questions • Availability of books • Remote access to licenced databases • Loan issues • Interlibrary loan • Legal deposit, CIP • Factual information