News, thoughts, ideas, and more from Virtual Dave Lankes
“Reference Authoring.” Virtual Reference Desk Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA. Presented current research on reference authoring emphasizing Reference Extract.
Slides: http://quartz.syr.edu/rdlankes/Presentations/2005/Authoring.pdf
Closing Session at the Virtual Reference Desk Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA. Recap of conference topics, themes and ideas.
Slides: http://quartz.syr.edu/rdlankes/Presentations/2005/Closing.pdf
Opening Session at the Virtual Reference Desk Conference, San Francisco, CA. Presentation on current issues and themes in digital reference and overview of the Virtual Reference Desk accomplishments.
Abstract: Presentation on current issues and themes in digital reference and overview of the Virtual Reference Desk accomplishments.
Slides: http://quartz.syr.edu/rdlankes/Presentations/2005/VRDOpen.pdf
“Reference Authoring” Friday Seminar SIMS, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA. Discussed the intersection between digital reference and information retrieval.
Slides: http://quartz.syr.edu/rdlankes/Presentations/2005/berkeley.pdf
Presentation on current issues and themes in digital reference and overview of the Virtual Reference Desk accomplishments.Â
Presented current research on reference authoring emphasizing Reference Extract.Â
Recap of conference topics, themed and ideas.Â
Discussed the intersection between digital reference and information retrieval.Â
Subject: Virtual Reference Desk at SU
Virtual Reference Desk project joins WebJunction as Information Institute of Syracuse and OCLC expand partnership
SYRACUSE, NY–The Virtual Reference Desk, a pioneering project in the development of digital reference, is moving its resources to WebJunction, the online community dedicated to emerging technology and training needs of librarians. This represents an expansion of the ongoing partnership between Syracuse University’s Information Institute of Syracuse and OCLC Online Computer Library Center.
The Virtual Reference Desk (VRD) is a project dedicated to the advancement of digital reference and the successful creation and operation of human-mediated, Internet-based information services. The Information Institute of Syracuse has been home to the VRD since 1997. OCLC and the Information Institute of Syracuse have collaborated on the VRD project since 2002.
In the expanded partnership, VRD will make its substantial and highly regarded body of virtual reference information available to the library community at WebJunction, a rich environment that includes threaded discussions, online courses, over 15,000 members, and a growing network of other partners. The Information Institute will continue the project’s ambitious research initiative, and will collaborate with OCLC on the 2005 Virtual Reference Desk Conference.
“This is a logical move given the success of virtual reference,� said David Lankes, director of the Information Institute of Syracuse. “As virtual reference becomes the norm, widely implemented in libraries around the world, VRD needs a home closer to the business of libraries. OCLC’s WebJunction is that natural home.�
The Institute will continue to work with OCLC and others on an advanced research agenda. “Ideas are what we do best,� Lankes added. “A University is an ideal place to push the envelope.�
“We are thrilled that WebJunction is expanding to include VRD and the reference community it serves. The Virtual Reference Desk has a lot of recognition as a high quality source of unbiased information, and WebJunction is the perfect place for it to continue to grow,� said George Needham, OCLC Vice President for Member Services. The VRD will remain a separate project from OCLC’s QuestionPoint service.
Originally developed with funding by the United States Department of Education, The Virtual Reference Desk has grown from a basic research project in 1997 to a consortium, agenda setting international conference, tool builder and clearinghouse for the virtual reference community. The VRD project has been instrumental in creating technical standards, quality standards, education resources, software and setting the research agenda in the reference field.
The Information Institute of Syracuse (IIS) at the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University is a long standing research center in the areas of education, technology and librarianship. It has been the source and host for a number of highly visible and widely successful digital education information services. The IIS created The Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education), The Virtual Reference Desk (VRD), AskERIC and the Educator’s Reference Desk. All projects share the same goal: to improve student learning by providing educators, policy makers and parents with quality information to improve teaching and the educational environment. IIS projects bring together universities, government agencies and private enterprises to promote easy access to high quality educational information to a diverse user population.
The School of Information Studies at SU is a nationally ranked center for innovative programs in information policy, information behavior, information management, information systems, information technology, and information services. The School offers an undergraduate degree, certificates of advanced studies, three professional master’s programs, and a Ph.D. The School of Information Studies was established in 1896 as the School of Library Science and is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). For more information, visit the School’s web site at www.ist.syr.edu.
Contact:
Amy Sloane-Garris
Phone: (315) 443-6885
asloaneg@syr.edu
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It is ironic that I pushed blogging so hard at this year’s VRD and didn’t actually do any blogging during the conference…well, a few StoryStarter posts. I wanted to give some more information on my last post and the status of VRD 2006 (post to Dig_Ref soon).
The VRD conferences have been part of an ongoing contract with the U.S. Department of Education (the Education Digital Library Initiative). This contract ended in June 2005. This funding paid for program development and staff time. OCLC joined the contract in 2002 and has handled the logistics of the conference (they have always insisted they have nothing to do with the program to avoid any perception of bias, and have been the best partners anyone could ask for). While the conference has always been able to cover its own expenses, OCLC, and this year SU, donated a sizable chunk of staff time to make this happen. With the end of the contract, and a seven year run, we and OCLC have decided it is time to turn the conference over to the virtual reference community.
What does that mean? Well, it means that as a community we need to come up with resources to run VRD 8 if we (the virtual reference community) decide it is worthwhile. We need volunteers to put the program together, we need an organization to handle the logistics (registration, program printing, etc), and we need a place to host 300-400 folks. That could be a hotel, or a campus, or a conference center. Bottom line, we need to come up a with a community and point organization that wants to keep VRD going. This is, by the way, how VRD started. VRD 99 was co-hosted with Harvard and NELINET, 2000 with the University of Washington, and 2001 with Florida State.
Let me be clear, we’re not talking money (that would help), but time. You could volunteer to review papers, or staff the desk, or whatever. If you are in an organization that can provide space, or wants to expand a current virtual reference event to an international audience, that would be great.
In about a week or so OCLC and we are going to schedule a conference call to get together those interested in continuing the conference. If you are interested, please contact either George Needham or me, or watch out for the call information.
I think a VRD 2006 would be great, and I plan on being as involved as this community wants. However, it is time for that community to decide if they need VRD, and if they do, step up.
"Virtual Dave" Lankes is an associate professor at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies. Click here for biographical information.
