Situational Virtual Reference: Get Help When You Need It

DesArmo, Joel; You, SukJin; Mu, Xiangming; Dimitroff, Alexandra

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47327 Copy

Description

Title

Situational Virtual Reference: Get Help When You Need It

Author(s)

• DesArmo, Joel
• You, SukJin
• Mu, Xiangming
• Dimitroff, Alexandra

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• virtual reference service
• usability study
• interface design
• intrusion and helpfulness

Abstract

This study aims to increase the use of virtual reference service by increasing the awareness of the availability of the service to users who really need it. A new situationally-based virtual reference interface, called the sVR interface, has been designed to reflect different levels of user search success. Findings from an eight-month field study done in a university library improved our understanding of how to effectively enhance the availability of virtual reference service to users who need it. A discussion about balancing the availability and the intrusiveness of virtual reference service is also provided.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

english

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47327

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14288

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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