Virtual Reference at CSUMB

Jane Silveria, CSU Monterey Bay

 

Background of CSUMB

·        New campus 1995; FTES approx 3000; add 500/year; residential

·        Interdisciplinary curriculum with 12 integrated majors

·        Focus on active collaborative learning

·        Outcomes based

·        Wired campus from the beginning; now moving to wireless

·        Emphasis on technology

·        Library:

o       7 FT librarians; 3 PT librarians

o       450 print and 10,000 full text journals

o       75 web accessible databases

o       e-reserves

o       web tutorials and finding aids

o       in person and phone reference 60 hours/week

There is a long history of sharing through the Monterey Bay Cooperative Consortium (MOBAC), a multi-type consortium of academic, community college and public libraries.  The Consortium has a regional catalog and a system reference center in San Jose.  It is a member of the Golden Gate Library Network (a region of the Library of California).

 

Why virtual reference?

·        An enhancement of email reference which has been operating for 6 years using Firstclass email service (which included chat).  Real time enables immediacy and the reference interview. 

·        Chat is familiar at CSUMB. 

·        Can push pages. 

·        Service to distance learners.  Increasing number of online courses.  Max on campus students = 8000.  Web delivery is preferred over video. 

·        Goal:  one stop shopping.  Workgroup is developing policy and procedures.

 

Instructional aspects

·        Co-browsing facilitates instruction.  Help in focusing question and in searching catalog and databases = one-on-one instruction.

·        Can link to other web pages, syllabi/e-reserves, subject guides, online tutorials

·        Slide show/meeting feature = group instruction

·        Human real time presence behind online instruction.

 

·        The future of Virtual Reference at CSUMB
Collaboration with regional libraries.  Community networking and service are important at CSUMB and are written into RTP.  Shared user population and shared resources.

·        Expanded regional network

·        Other California academic libraries

·        East Coast collaboration to increase service hours

·        National collaboration with CDRS

 

Issues and concerns

·        Moving beyond ready reference (i.e., Web resources only) requires advanced software

·        No co-browsing now

·        No licensed databases due to authentication and proxy issues

·        Limited personnel, funding

·        Administrative and staff reluctance

 

Summary prepared by Margo Young, CSU Los Angeles

 

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