Beyond the Reference Desk: From email to Web 2.0

  • Virginia Bazán Departamento de Biblioteconomía y Documentación, Facultad de Humanidades, Comunicación y Documentación. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. C/Madrid, 126. 28903 Getafe
  • Virginia Ortiz-Repiso Departamento de Biblioteconomía y Documentación, Facultad de Humanidades, Comunicación y Documentación. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. C/Madrid, 126. 28903 Getafe
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34096/ics.i28.685
Keywords: Digital Reference Services, Software, Text messaging, Instant messaging, Chat

Abstract

The current state of the technologies in the services of reference and the possibilities that they offer to improve them and to expand them are analyzed. The market of software for the digital reference is a market in constant evolution in which it is possible to find adequate products for any model of reference for any budget. From low price (or free)  products to products of thousands of dollars. The chosen software should be in harmony with the library goals for a digital reference service and, with its capacity to negotiate the change. The different options of available software are examined, from the basic software to the advanced software specifically developed for the digital reference, as well as the solutions that Web 2.0 offers to expand the offering of the service. Besides, the most important factors that should be keep in mind to carry out the most adequate election in function of the objectives and the needs of each library are studied, bearing in mind that the choice of software cannot determine the objectives of the service of reference. This work intends to be useful guide to successfully implement services of digital reference.

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Published
2013-06-01
How to Cite
Bazán, V., & Ortiz-Repiso, V. (2013). Beyond the Reference Desk: From email to Web 2.0. Información, Cultura Y Sociedad, (28), 11-32. https://doi.org/10.34096/ics.i28.685
Issue
No 28 (2013)
Section
Articles

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