The Virtual Reference Desk: Creating a Reference Future

Who could have imagined the impact on librarianship of technologies such as online chat, text messaging, and RSS feeds? And the future is sure to bring additional advances. In this forward-looking volume, the world's foremost reference experts including David Lankes, Marie Radford, Eileen Abels, and Sharon Morris guide librarians through new training and staffing models, look at these models' performance standards and evaluation tools, offer advice for serving new audiences, and help build collaborations and networks for reference service. In addition, the chapters - all updated and expanded versions of the conference presentations - explore digital projects, management, service to teens, wireless mobile technology, interpersonal communication, and more.