Points North Newsletters

June 2008

Page 4

Special Session On "Ask Us 24/7 Virtual Reference Service" Demonstration of Ask Us 24/7 Virtual Reference Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 6 at the NNYLN in Potsdam. There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is requested. Virtual reference is quickly becoming an important component of library service that can bolster a library's effectiveness and visibility as an information provider. Ask Us 24/7 is a virtual cooperative reference service that provides participating libraries an opportunity to join other libraries in the region and the state to provide text-based online reference services. Ask Us 24/7 is originally a project of the Western New York Library Resources Council and is now available to other 3Rs in the state. Staff from WNYLRC will demonstrate this service and answer questions. Anyone interested in virtual reference, and/or in a new way to provide virtual reference service should plan to attend. Benefits of Cooperative Virtual Reference: When compared to providing virtual reference services on their own, libraries have found that it is far less costly and requires fewer staff hours to participate in the regional Ask Us 24/7 service. Lower costs Fewer staffing requirements Free ongoing training and free promotional materials to publicize the service Use of the state of the art chat and follow-up software for conducting the service (not your ordinary instant messaging) Sophisticated reporting and statistical tools Opportunity to directly contribute to the direction and quality of the service Access to subject experts locally and nationally Direct links from a participating library's website to the Ask Us 24/7 service logo for patrons 24 hours a day, seven days per week For more information on Ask Us 24/7, go to www.wnylrc.org/org and click on "Programs and Services." To sign up, contact the Network or go online to www.nnyln.org and click on "Classes."

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