The Quality Assurance Workgroup has been hard at work and has awarded the following transcripts for December 2009 Exemplary Reference Awards of the Month. Transcripts were awarded in three categories: Best Detailed Chat, Best Brief Chat, and Best Teaching Chat.

Alicia Ellison, Hillsborough Community College will receive a gift card to Amazon.com for her Exemplary Detailed Chat and all three winners will receive a certificate at a presentation at this next year’s annual Florida Library Association Conference. The Ask a Librarian’s User Forum is set for Apr 7th at 1:30.

Exemplary Brief Chat: Melissa Mohler, Bartow Public Library

Melissa kept the patron constantly engaged in the chat conversation and it paid off as the patron exclaimed “that works thank you so much saved my life lol” That’s a testimonial if I ever heard one. Thanks Kristen!

Exemplary Detailed Chat: Alicia Ellison, Hillsborough Community College

The customer had homework questions requiring her to determine which of multiple choices were the correct call numbers for given book titles. I pushed web sites that describe the “anatomy of a call number” and LC and Dewey subject headings…plus guided her through a bit of deduction to conclude which were the correct numbers. Also gave a brief “lesson” on which libraries use which system…and managed to communicate with Traci Avet while I had the customer online (thanks, Traci) to answer a question about what would remain on the customer’s computer after the session ended. The transaction required prior knowledge of these sites (http://tinyurl.com/yd3h3pb … http://tinyurl.com/6ep5nb … http://www.ipl.org/div/aplus/lc_class.htm ) … plus quick reflexes to keep the customer engaged while getting the procedural answer and pasting it into the session.

Exemplary Teaching Chat: Christine Driver, University of Florida

Step by step just what the student needed. Christine showed determination and was willing to troubleshoot using Screenshare to help a student.

Selecting the top transcript in each category can often be a hard process with so many terrific sessions to choose from. Each month, I feel the QA group has to make harder and harder choices as the transcripts seem to get better and better. Below are the other people who were nominated this month by themselves, co-workers or the quality assurance workgroup.

Brief Exemplary Chat
Janet Bergeron, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Sarah Cisse, Nova Southeastern University
Warren French, Orange County Library System
Sandra Lee Hawes, Saint Leo University, Cannon Memorial Library
Kathleen Hensman, Delray Beach Public Library
Kristen J. Faulkner, Polk State College
Megan Smith Heafy, Nova Southeastern University
Ann Lindell, University of Florida
Bianca Rodriguez, Valencia Community College
Debora Stewart, Palm Beach Atlantic University

Detailed Exemplary Chat
Larry Cooperman, Everglades University
Laura Cifelli, Lee County Library System
Carla Clark, Miami Dade College
Meg Hawkin, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
Amy J, Osceola Library System
Chad Mairn, St Petersburg College
Nora Quinlan, Nova Southeastern University
Beth R, Florida State College, School of Information
Kay Ralston, Ask a Librarian Intern
Debora Stewart, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Margaret W, Florida State College, School of Information

Teaching Exemplary Chat
Paula Bagwell, St Petersburg College
Debra Bogart, Keiser University
Kelli Byrd, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Kira Smith, Ask a Librarian Intern

Don’t forget to nominate yourself or your co-workers sessions in the Ask a Librarian Toolbox at: https://info.askalibrarian.org or when closing a live chat session.

Congratulations to all those nominated this month. I thank everyone for all their hard work on Ask a Librarian – without each of you, Ask a Librarian would not be a success.