A presentation on my research into virtual reference.

1. Tony Nguyen

2. • Considered the first online reference
service available 24 hours a day, seven
days a week.
• Funded by a federal Institute of Museum
and Library Services grant awarded by the
State Library of Ohio.

3. • Administered through Cleveland Public Library
– 50 public libraries
– 24 colleges and universities
– NEO-RLS manages 50 freelance librarians who
answer patrons’ questions outside regular library
hours.
• Partnered with Oregon L-net to offer the service
24/7 across both states and assist with user
demand.

4. Provides all citizens of Ohio with free, live
online access to librarians who:
1. help students at all levels find resources
for homework.
2. suggest books for research and leisure
reading.
3. provide answers for all types of general
and specific questions.

5. Aug-06 Sep-06 Oct-06 Nov-06 Dec-06
1968 6469 8801 9021 7550
Statistics
Jan-07 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 Jun-07 Jul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Oct-07 Nov-07 Dec-07
8739 8604 10291 7382 9118 2942 1973 2603 5643 8689 7604 5201
Jan-08 Feb-08 Mar-08 Apr-08 May-08 Jun-08 Jul-08 Aug-08 Sep-08 Oct-08 Nov-08 Dec-08
8314 8273 6251 7447 7065 1927 1554 1924 4112 8415 8490 6319
Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09 Apr-09 May-09 Jun-09 Jul-09 Aug-09 Sep-09 Oct-09 Nov-09 Dec-09
6735 8442 8379 7188 8199 1773 1457 1611 4684 5209 4190 4562
Jan-10 Feb-10 Mar-10 Apr-10 May-10
12901 10712 12258 8935 10068

6. RUSA Guidelines
Guidelines for 1. Approachability
Behavioral 2. Interest
Performance of 3. Listening/Inquiring
Reference and
Information Services 4. Searching
Professionals. 5. Follow-Up

7. Results
Listening/Inqu User
Transaction Type Approachability Interest iring Searching Follow-Up Satisfaction
Reference 2 2 2 2 2 10
Reference 1 1 2 2 1 6*
Reference 2 1 2 2 2 6*
Ready Reference 1 2 0 2 2 10
Ready Reference 1 1 2 1 1 5
Ready Reference 2 1 1 1 2 0*
Reader Advisory 0 0 0 1 0 0
Reader Advisory 1 1 2 2 2 10
Reader Advisory 1 1 0 1 0 5

11. • Skye B: What does rostrocaudal pattering mean in reference to
mouse embryonic development?
• ryan: hello Skye
• Skye B: HI
• ryan: what type of source do u need for this?
• Skye B: I am reading an article from a science journal, and they
discuss this being affected, but never mention what it is
• ryan: it sounds like it refers to the distribution of certain cell types....
• ryan: ah....between nose and neck......nosto is nose and caudal is
neck
• ryan: sorry rostro is nose
• ryan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_terms_of_location
• Skye B: Ah, okay. Cool. Thanks
• ryan: yep....no problem

12. [5:26:23 PM] Art: Can you tell me what the population is in Japan?
[5:26:34 PM] librarian13 --Elyria Public Library System: Hi Art, let me take a look.
[5:26:40 PM] Art: Thanks!
[5:27:54 PM] librarian13 --Elyria Public Library System: See if this helps. I'm not
finding anything more current, but I'll keep
looking.http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-
wdi&met=sp_pop_totl&idim=country:JPN&dl=en&hl=en&q=population+of+japan
[5:28:29 PM] Art: Ok. let me check.
[5:28:55 PM] Art: Oh that's neat. Um, how do I cite Google?
[5:29:46 PM] librarian13 --Elyria Public Library System: Let me check.
[5:31:03 PM] librarian13 --Elyria Public Library System: See if this answers your
question.http://www.noodletools.com/helpdesk/index.php?article=17&action=kb
[5:31:25 PM] Art: Let me check.
[5:32:17 PM] Art: Ok, so it looks like I can't cite Google.
[5:32:18 PM] librarian13 --Elyria Public Library System: Here is another site that gives
a 2010 pop estimate and you can site the World Fact Book as a
book.https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html
[5:33:06 PM] librarian13 --Elyria Public Library System: as a book. sorry
[5:33:20 PM] Art: Ok. Cool. That looks good too
[5:33:30 PM] librarian13 --Elyria Public Library System: Anything else?
[5:33:42 PM] Art: No, I think that answers the question. Thanks a lot
[5:34:03 PM] librarian13 --Elyria Public Library System: You are welcome and thanks
for using Knowitnow.

13. • [4:44:33 PM] Dave: Are there any images of the Medicine Buddha available that I can analyze for a class project?
[4:44:54 PM] Dave: Hi Ann Marie
[4:45:08 PM] ann_marie: Hi. This is Ann Marie from Shawnee State.
[4:45:21 PM] Dave: Nice to meet you. I'm Dave
[4:45:26 PM] ann_marie: You want to find an image of the the medicine budda?
[4:45:37 PM] ann_marie: Could you give me a bit more information?
[4:46:16 PM] Dave: Yeah - I'm taking a Tibetan Buddhism class for Art History. We need to do an iconographic
study of an Buddhist image featuring a particular diety.
[4:46:51 PM] Dave: Does that help?
[4:47:25 PM] ann_marie: I am sure that you found this website http://dharma-haven.org/tibetan/medicine-
buddha.htm
[4:48:46 PM] Dave: I did, but I wasn't sure who published that website. He didn't want me to analyze work from
someone "off the street"
[4:49:31 PM] ann_marie: Do you have access to ART STOR? It is a database with many pictures of Buddha.
[4:49:45 PM] ann_marie: I did not specifically find medicine buddha.
[4:50:09 PM] Dave: In Tibetan, he's often referred to as Bhaisajyaguru.
[4:50:55 PM] Dave: I don't think I have access to Art Stor. I don't even know what that is.
[4:51:22 PM] ann_marie: Where are located right now?
[4:51:29 PM] Dave: OSU
[4:51:43 PM] ann_marie: Let me check their web page.
[4:51:58 PM] Dave: I'll try to visit that page too.
[4:52:58 PM] Dave: I think I found Artstor
[4:53:25 PM] Dave: Are there any images of the Medicine Buddha available that I can analyze for a class project?
[4:53:28 PM] ann_marie: OSU has a variety of art databases including ArtStor and Artfl.
[4:53:48 PM] Dave: I think I found Artstor
[4:53:49 PM] ann_marie: I did find a picture of the buddha in ArtStor
[4:54:19 PM] Dave: Medicine Buddha?
[4:54:43 PM] ann_marie: No. I used Bhaisajyaguru.
[4:55:00 PM] Dave: Oh ok. I'll have to see
[4:55:36 PM] Dave: I found a few that look like they'll work!
[4:55:37 PM] ann_marie: I do not have access to any of the OSU databases from here.
[4:55:51 PM] ann_marie: You will have to search yourself.
[4:55:58 PM] Dave: that's ok. I think I found some that will work. Thanks for referring me to Artstor
[4:56:18 PM] ann_marie: Hope this works for you. Anything else?
[4:56:34 PM] Dave: No, that helps me out a lot. I really appreciate it.
[4:56:52 PM] ann_marie: Have a good day.
[4:56:56 PM] Dave: You too!

14. ?