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- Title
Collaborative Virtual Reference Service: Should Jamaican Libraries be in a National Consortium?
- Authors
Nicholas, Pauline; Sterling, Jerdaine
- Abstract
With the advent of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the Internet there have been several innovative developments in librarianship that have had a tremendous impact on reference services. Reference services have become more dynamic, social and collaborative. Consequently, library users are no longer restricted to fulfilling their information needs face-toface or over the telephone as in previous decades, but now have the opportunity to liaise with librarians virtually and to have their queries answered immediately anytime, anywhere, and via current applications such as Instant Messaging (IM), Short Messaging Service (SMS) and commercial tools. The model in which libraries collaborate in the provision of reference services has drawn much attention in academia and is regarded as a viable option for libraries seeking innovative solutions to the problems of budgetary constraints, social exclusion and a lack of visibility. Notwithstanding the benefits associated with a collaborative reference service, the issues of cost, quality control and the commitment of member libraries are a few of the constraints that are yet to be overcome. By presenting a review of the scholarly literature supported by the views of an experienced practitioner, this paper seeks to explore the advantages and disadvantages of a collaborative virtual reference service (VRS) as well as the implications of implementing such a service at the national level in Jamaica. It is hoped that the paper will encourage librarians to participate in a collaborative VRS in Jamaica.
- Subjects
JAMAICA; ELECTRONIC reference services (Libraries); LIBRARIES; CONSORTIA; INFORMATION &; communication technologies; LIBRARIES &; the Internet; LIBRARY science; LIBRARY reference services
- Publication
LIAJA Journal, 2014, Issue 1, p1
- Publication type
Article