OCLC QuestionPoint Service Makes Shared
Digital Reference Available to Libraries

QuestionPoint is a collaborative digital reference service developed by the Library of Congress and OCLC with input from the Global Reference Network, a group of libraries and institutions worldwide that are committed to developing a shared digital reference service.

QuestionPoint enables libraries to respond to, track and manage reference questions from patrons via the Web. The service includes customizable Web-based submission forms, e- mail-based interaction and live chat for patrons. Libraries may also refer questions to other libraries and librarians within the local, regional or global cooperative, while tracking the location and status of the questions. A fully searchable multi-view database holds previously asked and answered questions for later retrieval and use.

QuestionPoint includes a database of information on libraries participating in the service. The database contains profiles with data about a library's demographics, staff subject expertise, special collections, collection strengths, supported languages, hours of availability, service level commitment, etc.

For more information about QuestionPoint, including pricing options, visit www.questionpoint.org or contact BCR's Michael Sauers (msauers@bcr.org) or Rosario Garza (rgarza@bcr.org).

Librarians interested in offering a collaborative online reference service should take a close look at OCLC QuestionPoint as well as competing services such as LSSI's Virtual Reference Toolkit and Docutek's URL+. There will be an article comparing the features of a number of these services in next month's Action for Libraries.

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February 27, 2008
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