Evaluation Of Worldwide Digital Reference Services In Librar

Description:
Summary This book outlines and evaluates the current status of the digital reference service in libraries worldwide. The book is based on an international collaborative project between two groups from German and Chinese institutions, during which digital reference services provided by nearly 200 libraries all over the world were evaluated. The book also examines the reasons for the resulting differences; it also contains more generic proposals and perspectives on digital reference services. Key Features 1. An international, evaluative approach is taken 2. Includes unique information - which has never before being gathered and evaluated 3. Includes a brief introduction to the basic knowledge and development in the field of digital reference service in the library The Author Dr. Jia Liu has been a research fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. During the research project, she was based at the Faculty of Information and Communication, University of Media, Stuttgart, Germany. Before this, she was an associate professor in the Department of Information Management, Peking University, Beijing, China.Readership The book is primarily intended for professionals and practitioners in the field of digital reference service. In the meantime, it could be a very good reference book for the teachers and students in the higher education institutions who have interest in this field. Contents Introduction Basics about digital reference services - primary knowledge, variety of digital reference services, cooperative digital reference services, other issues and notes Evaluating digital reference services - necessity and importance, evaluation targets, evaluation methods, evaluation workflow, standards and criteria, notes Views from the Western world - group division and work distribution, timetable, workflow, results, notes Views from the Eastern world - group division and work distribution, timetable, workflow, results, notes Comparisons and analysis - comparisons, experiences and lessons, conclusions, perspectives, notes Appendices - guidelines for behavioural performance of reference and information service providers; project institution, questionnaire/evaluation guide, libraries evaluated by the German team, libraries evaluated by the Chinese team

Table of Contents:
Introduction; Basics knowledge - a brief introduction to the history, principles, key issues and one case study of the digital reference service in the library; Views from the Western world - an overview of the sub-project implemented on the German side and the evaluation results; Views from the Eastern world - an overview of the sub-project implemented on the Chinese side and the evaluation results; Comparisons and analysis - comparisons of the evaluation results from both sides, according to, firstly, the evaluation criteria and, secondly, the continent where the libraries are located; also examines the reasons for similarities and differences; Proposals and perspective - some suggestions and perspectives on the field of digital reference service in the library.

Author Biography:
Dr. Jia Liu has been a research fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. During the research project, she was based at the Faculty of Information and Communication, University of Media, Stuttgart, Germany. Before this, she was an associate professor in the Department of Information Management, Peking University, Beijing, China.