[OPLINLIST] KnowItNow
Jane Byrnes
Jbyrnes@sloma.state.oh.us
Thu, 26 May 2005 08:29:01 -0400
This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
------_=_NextPart_001_01C561EE.7F449940
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Dear Ohio Library Directors,
I am so proud and excited to announce that the statewide virtual =
reference
service is now over eight months old! Already Ohioans are embracing =
the
service by asking over 90,000 questions to date. Librarians report =
that
they are seeing patrons from every corner of the state. =20
The local library's involvement in this new service is critical. As
statewide KnowItNow use increases, so does the need for additional =
library
participation. Between the hours of 5:30 and 8:30 Monday - Thursday is
particularly busy and those libraries staffing these shifts would very =
much
appreciate staffing contributions from more libraries. =20
Wondering how you can help out? Here are some facts (provided to me by
Tracy Strobel) that you might find helpful in deciding exactly what =
role you
and your library can play in this service.=20
=20
* What kind of time commitment do we need to make?
Libraries are asked to commit to one three hour shift per week from =
5:30 pm
-8:30 pm. Choose any day Monday - Thursday but you will keep the same =
shift
every week so that staffing levels are consistent. =20
* Can my staff members do this while they also cover the desk?
The best service is provided by someone dedicated to providing the =
service.
Because of the volume of incoming questions, it would be difficult for
librarians to cover a KnowItNow shift and answer the phone or help walk =
up
patrons.
=20
* Which members of my staff are qualified to provide service?
Librarians should have good computer skills, be able to multi-task, and =
have
great Internet searching skills. An M.L.S degree or college degree =
with
reference experience is required.
* Do we need any special equipment?
An Internet connected computer with Microsoft Internet Explorer is =
needed.
There is minimal setup necessary and technical support is provided.
* How do we get training?
Training is free and offered at a convenient location and a convenient =
time.
The training is hands on and lasts about 3 =BD hours. You may send as =
many
staff members as you would like to training.
* Who else provides KnowItNow service? =20
Forty-seven Ohio libraries contribute coverage. Click here for a list:
http://www.knowitnow.org/participation.php
<http://www.knowitnow.org/participation.php> =20
* How many questions can you expect to get in one shift? =20
Well, the more libraries that participate, the fewer each has to =
handle. In
February, Tuesdays were our busiest night and each librarian handled =
about
10 questions per hour over the 3 hours shift. That's too many so we =
could
really use more help!
* Are my patrons using the service? =20
You can find that out by checking your local stats at:
http://www.knowitnow.org/Stats.aspx =
<http://www.knowitnow.org/Stats.aspx>=20
* How do I answer questions for patrons from all over the state?=20
So much information is available online now - from local zoning codes =
to
local historical societies to our own library hours and catalogs. =
Often
times we can find local information pretty easily. In those cases =
where it
would be best for a patron to talk to their local librarians, we can =
refer
them and even send the local library a copy of the session transcript =
so
that they can follow-up.
To learn more, sign up for a shift and schedule training, contact Tracy
Strobel at 216-623-2988 or tracy@cpl.org <mailto:tracy@cpl.org> .
Thank you. =20
Best wishes,=20
Jo
************************************************
Jo Budler
State Librarian
State Library of Ohio
274 East First Ave.=20
Columbus, OH 43201
614-644-6843
1-800-686-1532
(fax) 614-466-3584
------_=_NextPart_001_01C561EE.7F449940
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">
<META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version =
5.5.2653.12">
<TITLE>KnowItNow</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>Dear Ohio Library Directors,</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>I am so proud and excited to announce =
that the statewide virtual reference service is now over eight months =
old!=A0 Already Ohioans are embracing the service by asking over 90,000 =
questions to date.=A0 Librarians report that they are seeing patrons =
from every corner of the state.=A0 =A0</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>The local library's involvement in this =
new service is critical.=A0 As statewide KnowItNow use increases, so =
does the need for additional library participation.=A0 Between the =
hours of 5:30 and 8:30 Monday - Thursday is particularly busy and those =
libraries staffing these shifts would very much appreciate staffing =
contributions from more libraries.=A0 </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>Wondering how you can help out?=A0 Here =
are some facts (provided to me by Tracy Strobel) that you might find =
helpful in deciding exactly what role you and your library can play in =
this service. </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>=A0</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>What kind of time commitment do we need to =
make?</FONT></I><BR>
<FONT SIZE=3D2>Libraries are asked to commit to one three hour shift =
per week from 5:30 pm -8:30 pm.=A0 Choose any day Monday - Thursday but =
you will keep the same shift every week so that staffing levels are =
consistent.=A0 </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>Can my staff members do this while they also cover the =
desk?</FONT></I><BR>
<FONT SIZE=3D2>The best service is provided by someone dedicated to =
providing the service.=A0 Because of the volume of incoming questions, =
it would be difficult for librarians to cover a KnowItNow shift and =
answer the phone or help walk up patrons.<BR>
=A0</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>Which members of my staff are qualified to provide =
service?</FONT></I><BR>
<FONT SIZE=3D2>Librarians should have good computer skills, be able to =
multi-task, and have great Internet searching skills.=A0 An M.L.S =
degree or college degree with reference experience is =
required.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>Do we need any special equipment?<BR>
</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=3D2>An Internet connected computer with Microsoft =
Internet Explorer is needed.=A0 There is minimal setup necessary and =
technical support is provided.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>How do we get training?</FONT></I><BR>
<FONT SIZE=3D2>Training is free and offered at a convenient location =
and a convenient time.=A0 The training is hands on and lasts about 3 =
=BD hours.=A0 You may send as many staff members as you would like to =
training.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>Who else provides KnowItNow service?</FONT></I><FONT =
SIZE=3D2>=A0<BR>
Forty-seven Ohio libraries contribute coverage.=A0 Click here for a =
list:</FONT> <A =
HREF=3D"http://www.knowitnow.org/participation.php"><U><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
SIZE=3D2>http://www.knowitnow.org/participation.php</FONT></U></A><FONT =
SIZE=3D2> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>How many questions can you expect to get in one =
shift?</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=3D2>=A0<BR>
Well, the more libraries that participate, the fewer each has to =
handle.=A0 In February, Tuesdays were our busiest night and each =
librarian</FONT> <FONT SIZE=3D2>handled</FONT> <FONT SIZE=3D2>about 10 =
questions per hour over the 3 hours shift.=A0 That's too many so we =
could really use more help!</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>Are my patrons using the service?</FONT></I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>=A0<BR>
You can find that out by checking your local stats at:</FONT> <A =
HREF=3D"http://www.knowitnow.org/Stats.aspx"><U><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
SIZE=3D2>http://www.knowitnow.org/Stats.aspx</FONT></U></A>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Wingdings">Ø<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New"> </FONT></FONT><I> <FONT =
SIZE=3D2>How do I answer questions for patrons from all over the =
state?</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=3D2><BR>
So much information is available online now -=A0 from local zoning =
codes to local historical societies to our own library hours and =
catalogs.=A0 Often times we can find local information pretty =
easily.=A0 In those cases where it would be best for a patron to talk =
to their local librarians, we can refer them and even send the local =
library a copy of the session transcript so that they can =
follow-up.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>To learn more, sign up for a shift and =
schedule training, contact Tracy Strobel at 216-623-2988 or</FONT> <A =
HREF=3D"mailto:tracy@cpl.org"><U><FONT COLOR=3D"#0000FF" =
SIZE=3D2>tracy@cpl.org</FONT></U></A><FONT SIZE=3D2>.</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>Thank you.=A0 </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>Best wishes, </FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2>Jo</FONT></P>
<BR>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">************************************************</FONT></=
P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Jo Budler</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">State =
Librarian</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">State Library of =
Ohio</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">274 East First =
Ave.</FONT> </P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Columbus, OH=A0 =
43201</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">614-644-6843</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">1-800-686-1532</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=3DLEFT><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">(fax) =
614-466-3584</FONT></P>
</BODY>
</HTML>
------_=_NextPart_001_01C561EE.7F449940--