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Usage statistics - confusing the reader

Call it what you will: data, usage data, metrics, look up, visit, session, usage statistics, quality assurance, review tools, counter compliant - whatever, what we are referring to is quantifiable discreet numbers which explain, hint or describe usage of something. They do not describe quality because if that item is the only thing in the library, well, it may be heavily used. But we can agree it was used, or used less or more than some other item or in some other time frame. Someone stepped over the door sill and through the turnstile and stayed for a bit (which we don't have in online, but you get the idea). To further confuse the reader, we can not profess to know why it got used. It could be for work in a course, or for personal continuing education.

RUSA Standards and The Virtual Librarian Service Part IV

And the last of the evaluation of the VLS against the RUSA Standards

5.0 Organization of Service

The Virtual Librarian Service’s primary clientele is the online academic institution with no campus. All faculty, administration and students are online and all service is offered at the beginning by email and all eResources are web-based and all meetings are by videoconferencing or phone. Accreditation guidelines for that educational institution’s online program are met.

RUSA Standards and The Virtual Librarian Service Part III

Our continuing evaluation of VLS against RUSA Standards

Section 4.0 Provision of Service

We meet the guidelines. We have a defined patron population, service notices are placed at point of use and in library publications. Orientation and information literacy programs exist. The Virtual Librarian Service manages continuity of service with shift change notes, surveys, assigned responsibilities and meetings. There is a Reference Service Policy posted which covers policies on privacy, appropriate behavior, levels of service, types of queries,  times for replies and social media issues. Some policies are repeated in the automated greeting. Inter library loans and document delivery is not offered. Service is every day so never unavailable.  Accreditation guidelines for that educational institution’s online program are met.

RUSA Standards and The Virtual Librarian Service Part II

RUSA Standards and The Virtual Librarian Service Part II

Section 2.0 Definition of Virtual Reference

The Virtual Librarian Service falls within the definition. The Virtual Librarian Service concurs with the differences between reference service and resources stated in 2.2

Section 3.0 Preparing for Virtual Reference Services

Our primary clientele is an online academic institution with no campus. All faculty, administration and students are online and all service is offered at the beginning by email and all eResources are web-based and all meetings are by videoconferencing or phone. Accreditation guidelines for that educational institution’s online program are met.

From time to time, depending on the client educational institution and the size of its online activities, we set up a Virtual Librarian Service where there also exists a campus library or where a campus exists but no library.

RUSA Standards and The Virtual Librarian Service Part I

RUSA Standards and The Virtual Librarian Service

Part I

RUSA is the Reference and User Services Association: a division of the American Library Association. The RUSA Guidelines for Implementing and Maintaining Virtual Reference Services were originally promulgated in 2004 and revised in 2009 being approved by their Board of Directors March 2012.
On August 20 2012 the Virtual Librarian Service librarians met to review and assess the virtual librarian service against the RUSA Guidelines. Our services are not a perfect match to the intentions of the Guidelines. The Guidelines are intended for physical campus libraries adding or expanding into virtual reference service.

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