The conference will be a unique opportunity to meet with public librarians and legal and court experts to discuss strategies for integrating access to legal information into your programs, including how to find the best content and tools, talk about the content with library patrons, form partnerships to develop content, share what you have learned, and advocate for the importance of public libraries as gateways to government information.

The supporting material and information resulting from this conference will be published on WebJunction Illinois in the Legal Information section. 

More information and how to apply…

A digital branch or reference service brings human interaction to the computer age, so that patrons can get information and answers from library staff via digital communication tools such as email, chat, IM, and live online events. WJIL provides a host of resources for the library reaching out with virtual reference.

Contents: Resources | Courses and Learning | Community | What could I do with…? | What’s New RSS Feed

“What’s New” RSS Feed

Want the latest “What’s New @ WJIL” to come to you? Add the RSS feed to your blog reader.
[http://webjunctionworks.org/il/blog/index.php/category/new-wj-il/feed/]

Resources

Virtual Reference

• The starting page for exploring WJIL resources related to this topic. From this page you can connect with resources such as Technical Standards, Publications, Quality Standards and White Papers.
• Path: [Library Services » Information Services » Reference & Resources » Virtual Reference ]

What is a Digital Branch Anyway?

• A chapter from Library Technology Reports that introduces the concept of a digital branch and outlines the phases of developing and maintaining the library’s web presence.
• Path: [Library Services » Information Services » Reference & Resources » Virtual Reference]

Case Study: Washington State Virtual Reference Project

• A look at how Washington State Library implemented a successful blended learning program for training virtual reference staff.
• Path: [Library Services » Information Services » Reference & Resources » Virtual Reference]

Statistics, Measures and Quality Standards for Assessing Digital Reference Library Services: An Introduction  

• This presentation summarizes the final results from the Assessing Quality in Digital Reference Project, including an overview of the evaluation manual and selected key issues that the project identified. The presentation also discusses next steps in evaluating digital reference services and offers recommendations for how libraries can best implement and use the evaluation manual
• Path: [Library Services » Information Services » Reference & Resources » Virtual Reference » Technical Standards]

AskA Question Submission Forms

• An overview of the types and features of question submission forms used by AskA services such as KidsConnect, the Internet Public Library, How Things Work, and Ask Dr. Math.
• Path: [Library Services » Information Services » Reference & Resources » Virtual Reference » AskA Digests]

Privacy Policies on K12 AskA Service Sites

• An overview of privacy policies for K12 AskA services, includes resources for creating privacy policies. Path: [Library Services » Information Services » Reference & Resources » Virtual Reference » AskA Digests]

Courses and Learning

Digital Reference Summit: Be Where Your Users Are

• Join this special 90 minute webinar to hear the latest implications, trends and tips in digital reference with a panel of special guests including: Stephen Francoeur, Information Services Librarian, Baruch College (NY); Susan McGlamery, 24/7 Reference Cooperative Director; and Alison Miller, Internet Public Library.

Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century - webinar archive

• When was the last time your website was redesigned – three years ago? Last century? Join presenter David Lee King for Building the Digital Branch: Guidelines to Transform Your Website for the 21st Century, a webinar brought to you in special collaboration with WebJunction-Kansas and ALA TechSource.

WJIL Course Catalog - Courses related to Virtual Reference

Basic Web-Based Reference

• Basic Web-based Reference will help the learner to provide basic web-based reference service involving e-mail and chat. The course addresses the advantages and disadvantages of online reference, gives step-by-step guidance, and provides tips and resources.

Tools for the Reference Desk – AMIGOS Instructor led course

• Do you want to learn how to implement Web technologies in your reference desk? This course explores a variety of online tools, from blogs, wikis, to free chat software and web-based platforms from which you can engage your users at the reference desk. Come learn how to utilize several free online tools in your reference activities. NOTE: This course is a live Instructor-led course consisting of 2 two hour sessions. Enrollment in this course is for fee. See details in the course description.

Community

AskAway Group on WJIL

• Ask?Away Illinois is an Internet-based reference service that allows information seekers to interact online and in real time with a skilled librarian.  The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Reference librarians from public, academic, school, medical, and other special libraries in Illinois staff the service in collaboration with librarians in Wisconsin and beyond for peek time and after-hour support. Join the AskAway Illinois librarians to share ideas and materials. The group may also be used to post announcements about the cooperative.
• Path: [Illinois Center » Featured Statewide Initiatives » Ask?Away Illinois]

What Could I do with…The Ask?Away IL Group?

WJIL Groups provide a place for users with a common interest to exchange information and resources. If you are interested in joining the Ask?Away Illinois Group on WJIL, go to http://il.webjunction.org/86 and click on the “Join the Group.” You’ll find helpful resources such as the Chat Schedule, how to Request a Substitute, Steps to Participation in Ask?Away Illinois and Promotional Posters for marketing your Ask?Away virtual reference service.

Join this special 90 minute webinar sponsored by WebJunction on September 30th (1:00 – 2:30 pm) to hear the latest implications, trends and tips in digital reference with a panel of special guests including: Stephen Francoeur, Information Services Librarian, Baruch College (NY); Susan McGlamery, 24/7 Reference Cooperative Director; and Alison Miller, Internet Public Library.

For more information and to register visit L2.

1. ACCURACY ~ reliable answers from professionals

2. COVERAGE ~ 24/7 gives your patrons coverage after library hours

3. FOLLOW UP ~ transcripts of chat sessions are emailed to patrons

4. COST ~ lowest price of any virtual reference service

5. JOIN NOW — PAY LATER when 2009 billing comes from LTLS

The Ask Away deadline is fast approaching. DON’T DELAY. TIME IS SHORT. Contact Natalie Tagge at the ISL 217- 557-6329 ntagge@ilsos.net today.

AskAway Illinois has been funded through an IMLS grant that ends December 31. As of January 1, 2009 AskAway Illinois will not be subsidized, and participating libraries will assume responsibility for the cost.

As of January 1, 2009, AskAway will only be accessible from participating libraries’ chat forms. The statewide form currently accessible to all patrons from the AskAway state site will not exist once statewide service ends on December 31. OCLC is expected to deliver pricing for individual ILLINET libraries no later than November 15.

We encourage libraries to participate in AskAway Illinois as the project moves into a sustainable future. If you have questions please feel free to contact Natalie Tagge or call 217-557-6329.

Post notification reprinted from nsls.info Newsletter, 8/8/08

We want to hear from as many of you as possible. We hope you will take this opportunity to make your voices heard and help us to make the RSF a better means of serving your reference needs. The survey will be up and ready to go using Survey Monkey starting April 15th and running through the 31st of May. To participate in the survey, simply click here.

We encourage everyone who is interested to take the survey and to please pass on the information about the survey to others whom you think would be interested. The more we hear about your needs the better the RSF can work on addressing them.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact one of the co-chairs, Charm Ruhnke at charmruhnke@lcls.org or Cristy Stupegia at spartalib@hotmail.com. You may complete the survey online.