joe dobbs virtual reference coordinator [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
Beta Test this Fall with 6 UT Components
UT Austin
UT Arlington
UT Brownsville
UT Dallas
UT Houston, School of Public Health
UT San Antonio
Goals of Beta Test
• Determine demand for this new service
• What types of questions users ask
• Will collaboration work? Can librarians at one campus help another school’s library users?
• Will QuestionPoint work for a collaborative reference service?
How it works…
• Each component links from their own web site
• Rotating schedule
• Hours: Mon - Thurs noon - 6pm, Fri noon – 4pm
• Some local questions referred to local UT component
• Start date: September 2, 2003
What we found out…
• 151 chat sessions with users
• Users ask many types of questions:database searchingcirculation proceduresresearch help
• Low percentage of questions required referral
• Software problems – disconnections, reports, surveys
• Placement of link on UT component’s web site matters
615
25
79
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1 1
10
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Austin Arlington Brownsville Dallas Houston,PublicHealth
SanAntonio
TeleCampus PanAmerican
Other
UT System Beta Test Questions, Fall '03Total Questions: 151
UT System Disconnected Sessions
Disconnects21%
Connected Sessions
79%
Spring 2004
• Link added from TeleCampus pages
• Discussions with other UT Components about joining service
• Working with QuestionPoint to resolve software issues
• Slow start but gradual increase in traffic
• Disconnects appear to be less frequent
• Video Conferences and additional discussion among Components