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BCR Offers Free Workshop
on OCLC QuestionPoint Service

By Michael Sauers

BCR is now offering a free, four-hour introduction to OCLC's QuestionPoint service for all interested librarians throughout the BCR region. The first of these sessions will be at BCR's offices in Aurora (Colorado) on Tuesday, April 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

QuestionPoint is a collaborative digital reference service the Library of Congress and OCLC developed jointly with input from participating members of the Global Reference Network (a group of libraries and institutions worldwide committed to digital reference). QuestionPoint enables libraries to:

  • Respond to, track and manage reference questions from patrons via the Web.

  • When needed, refer unanswered questions to staff of other libraries in the cooperative, based on availability and expertise.

  • Refer still unanswered questions to expert resources through a global Web-based network in which an automated "request manager" routes questions from one library to another. Referrals are based on metadata about the question and predefined profiles of the collection, subject and staff strengths of members of the network, etc.

  • Provide libraries with tools to add simple links from any page in their library portal to support a locally branded and customizable question-asking service including: Web-based submission forms, e-mail- based interaction and live chat for library patrons.

  • Integrate QuestionPoint's global reference network with alternative service providers the library might be using to address its local needs.

  • Search a global knowledgebase of previously asked and answered reference questions.

In this workshop attendees will:

  • Gain an understanding of how QuestionPoint works and how it can fit into a library's current reference services.

  • See how to use QuestionPoint in a live environment.

  • Learn how to administer a QuestionPoint account and customize it for their library.

Those interested in attending should register through BCR's Web site at www.bcr.org/training/workshops/register.html or by contacting Stephanie Jauregui at sjauregu@bcr.org.

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February 27, 2008
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