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HELP from afar:

HELP from afar:. Electronic Outreach Services for Library Users Kathrine Montgomery January 31, 2001. The Changing Face of Libraries:. Proliferation of electronic resources Home/office computers allow for increased remote access Distance - convenience

norman-mayer
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HELP from afar:

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  1. HELP from afar: Electronic Outreach Services for Library Users Kathrine Montgomery January 31, 2001

  2. The Changing Face of Libraries: • Proliferation of electronic resources • Home/office computers allow for increased remote access • Distance - convenience • Time constraints (age of 24/7 stores, why not 24/7 access to resources)

  3. What is outreach? • Extending of services or assistance beyond current or usual limits; the extent of such services or assistance (MW) • Any service or method that provides added access to library resources

  4. Why bother with outreach? • Countless new resources • Difficult to know where to search • All online sources are not equal • Web and electronic resources - broad but not deep • Don’t forget the paper!

  5. Varieties of outreach • Reference • Instruction • Informative • Combination

  6. Reference • Aid with choosing appropriate sources • Aid with search terms/techniques • Allows contact with a librarian • Way of introducing face-to-face time

  7. Reference • Phone reference • Email reference • Video reference • Chat reference • Combination HOW?

  8. Form vs. Function • Materials sought • Form of materials sought • Clarification of purpose • Background information • Sources already used • Use statistics

  9. Instruction • What resources are available - and when to use them • What kind of information can be found in each resource • How to conduct a search • What to do with the results

  10. Instruction • In combination with reference services • Guides/pathfinders/help sheets • Test effectiveness of the guides • Are they being used? • Are they written for users or by information scientists?

  11. Informative • Email notices of interest to groups • New products • Services - Electronic and on-site • Web bulletin board • Library web site

  12. Combination • Work with faculty to integrate reference, instruction, and informational updates with relevant courses • Course web pages • Blackboard

  13. Recommendations • Survey or other evaluation methods • What do users want? • What do users need? • What is the most effective way to provide products/services? • Start with test programs to gauge effectiveness

  14. Conclusions • Vital to know what your user group wants and needs - especially since it can change • Important to stay abreast of new technology • Be creative - try out new techniques as well as new technology • Be flexible - be willing and able to adapt to the changing environment

  15. HELP From Afar Kate Montgomery kmontgo@umich.edu

  16. Example: IPL

  17. Example: IPL

  18. IPL Reference Form

  19. IPL Reference Form

  20. IPL Reference Form

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