1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910449885903321

Autore

Chowdhury Gobinda

Titolo

Digital reference service [[electronic resource] /] / Gobinda Chowdhury

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Bradford, England, : Emerald Group, c2004

ISBN

1-280-51534-1

9786610515349

1-84544-394-2

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (72 p.)

Collana

Library Review. No. 1 ; ; Vol. 53

Disciplina

025.5

025.524

Soggetti

Electronic reference services (Libraries)

Digital libraries

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di contenuto

Contents; Abstracts & keywords; Abstracts & keywords French; Abstracts & keywords German; Guest editorial; Evaluation of two library-based and one expert reference service on the Web; Digital reference services: how do the library-based services compare with the expert services?; How good are the free digital reference services? A comparison of library-based and expert services; Digital reference services for young library users: a comparison of four services

Call centres for enhanced reference services: a comparison of selected library call centres and the Reference Point at National Library of SingaporeDigital reference services: a snapshot of the current practices in Scottish libraries; ''Beyond the virtual shore'': an Australian digital reference initiative with a global dimension; Book reviews; Note from the publisher

Sommario/riassunto

It has become increasingly common for libraries to provide a reference service which operates via e-mail or through online forms. This paper compares the performance of three digital reference services available on the World Wide Web, namely, AllExperts, Ask a Librarian, and Internet Public Library (a fourth service, Ask Bob, was included initially but eventually excluded). The online digital reference/''expert'' services



are generally very effective; most provide an answer within three days, and include suggestions for sources of further information. Although the general response rate from al