Refresher Webinar
Space is still available in our brief webinar designed to help you brush-up on both chat and texting in the Ask a Librarian software. Are you in need of a refresher? Does texting have you confused? If so, this workshop will help you regain your footing in staffing Ask a Librarian.
Ask a Librarian 1.5-hour Refresher Webinar
Wed., Sept. 7, 2011
10-11:30 am ET
To register, please visit: http://www.tblc.org/ws_info.php?ws=1577
OCLC Report on Virtual Reference
Hello everyone,
OCLS & Rutgers University have published a report based on five years of research on virtual reference. It is called “Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference”, by Lynn Silipigni Connaway and Marie L. Radford, and you can view or download the full PDF at http://www.oclc.org/reports/synchronicity/full.pdf.
More information can be found at http://www.oclc.org/reports/synchronicity/default.htm. Below is an excerpt from the page description :
[…]Seeking Synchronicity distills more than five years of virtual reference (VR) research into a readable summary that features memorable quotes that vividly illustrate very specific and actionable suggestions. Taken from a multi-phase research project that included focus group interviews, surveys, transcript analysis, and phone interviews, with VR librarians, users, and non-users, these findings are meant to help practitioners develop and sustain VR services and systems. The report asserts that the “R” in “VR” needs to emphasize virtual “Relationships” as well as “Reference”.
Among the topics addressed are:
•The exaggerated death of ready reference
•The importance of query clarification in VR
•Ways to boost accuracy and build better interpersonal relationships in VR
•What can be learned from VR transcripts
•How convenience is the “hook” that draws users into VR services
•Generational differences in how people perceive reference interactions and determine success
•The need for more and better marketing
Enjoy your weekend!
help needed – upcoming shifts
The following Ask a Librarian shifts are in need of help:
Sat., Aug. 6, 1-2 and 2-3pm (collaborative)
Sun., Aug. 7, 6-7 and 7-8 pm (collaborative)
Tues., Aug. 9, 6-7 and 7-8 pm
Wed., Aug. 10, 2-3* and 3-4* pm (academic)
Wed., Aug. 10, 5-6* pm (collaborative)
Thurs., Aug. 11, 11a-12p (academic)
Thurs., Aug. 11, 6-7 and 7-8 pm (collaborative)
Fri., Aug. 12, 10-11a, 11a-12p, 1-2 pm (academic)
Mon., Aug. 15, 2-3* pm (academic)
Mon., Aug. 15, 2-3* and 7-8* pm (collaborative)
Tues., Aug. 16, 6-7 and 7-8 pm (collaborative)
Wed., Aug. 17, 5-6* pm (collaborative)
Thurs., Aug. 18, 11a-12p (academic)
Thurs., Aug. 18, 6-7* and 7-8 pm (collaborative)
Fri., Aug. 19, 11a-12p, 12-1, 1-2, 2-3 pm (academic)
Also, if you are interested in picking up an additional regular shift, weekly Collaborative Desk shifts are available in these ranges (hourly):
Mondays, 10-11a, 5-8pm
Tuesdays, 6-8 pm
Wednesdays, 10a-1p, 5-8pm
Thursdays, 5-8 pm
Saturdays, 11a-3p
Sundays, 10a-8p
If you can help with any of the above one-time or weekly shifts in need of help, please let me know at avett@tblc.org. Enjoy your weekend!!
Chat, Text, Email Statistics – July 2011
The following statistics are now available for the month of July 2011:
Email Workshop – Register Today!
Space is still available in next week’s Ask a Librarian Email webinar on Tues., Aug. 2 at 10 am ET. If you need a refresher on answering emails in the agent console for your library system, or if you currently utilize your own email system but would like a sneak-peek on how email works inside the Ask a Librarian console, please sign up today. (Registration closes at noon on July 28.)
To register, please visit: http://www.tblc.org/ws_info.php?ws=1511
Welcome, Jessica!
We are excited to announce the new TBLC Member Services Coordinator, Jessica Riggins!
Jessica looks forward to working with the TBLC and Ask a Librarian communities, and we are thrilled to have her. Be sure to drop her a line at rigginsj@tblc.org and welcome her to our incredible team! Here’s a personal introduction from Jessica:
Good Morning – I would like to introduce myself as the new Member Services Coordinator for TBLC. My name is Jessica Riggins and it is my job to reach out to members and library staff in our 18 county area and help you connect with TBLC, it’s programs and services, and one-another. My job includes some communications, some marketing, and a lot of relationship building. I will also be playing a similar role as member of the Ask a Librarian team and community.
I am graduate of Kutztown University with an undergraduate degree in Library Science and the University of South Florida with a Masters degree in Library and Information Science. Over the last five years I have worked as a law librarian for Everlove and Associates. Prior to that, I have worked in Academic, Public and Medical libraries. I am very active with our local library organization, Suncoast Information Specialists.
I am here to help with questions about programs and services and in identifying ways TBLC can be of value to you and those you serve! Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or ideas! I look forward to meeting and working with the members of TBLC!
Jessica Riggins
Member Services Coordinator
Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Inc.
1202 Tech Blvd., Ste. 202
Tampa, FL 33619
813-622-8252 ext 226
rigginsj@tblc.org
