Materials Presented at the Symposium

Question Negotiation in an Electronic Environment

Lead Author: Joseph Janes, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor, University of Washington Information School
http://www.ischool.washington.edu/people/facstaffdirectory.htm

Much of what is known in reference intermediation is based on face-to-face transactions. How does the reference interview translate into the digital environment? This paper will explore the transition of reference practice into the digital mode and explore significant factors in question negotiation.

Impact and Opportunity of Digital Reference in Primary and Secondary Education

Lead Author: R. David Lankes, Ph.D.,
Director, Information Institute of Syracuse
Assistant Professor, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
http://www.askeric.org/~rdlankes

It has been proposed that the inclusion of scientists, mathematicians, authors and other experts in the classroom through the Internet can motivate students, and enrich the education process. This paper will discuss what is currently known about digital reference in the classroom, and what questions need to be addressed to further our understanding of digital reference in service of education.

Standards, Systems and Software for Digital Reference

Lead Author: Michael McClennen, Ph.D.,
Head of Information Systems

Internet Public Library
http://www.ipl.org/about/bios.html

There is a close coupling between the practice of digital reference and the shape of the software tools used to enable it. To maximize the effectiveness of these tools, we must understand the parameters relevant to modeling digital reference as an abstract system. How can we effectively enable small-scale and large-scale collaboration between different reference services? What synergies are possible between the asynchronous and synchronous service models? This paper will explore these and other issues in the context of meshing the methods and tools of computer science with those of librarianship.

Integrating Digital Reference Service into the Digital Library Environment

Lead Author: Jeffrey Pomerantz
Ph.D. Candidate,
School of Information Studies, Syracuse University
http://ils.unc.edu/~jpom/

Digital libraries have to date been defined primarily as collections of electronic resources, with less thought to user services. Digital reference has to date been defined primarily as a service, with less thought to collection-building. This paper will explore the issue of integrating digital reference service into digital libraries. 

Education for Digital Reference Services

Lead Author: Linda C. Smith, Ph.D.,
Professor, Associate Dean/Interim Dean
Library of Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/gslis/people/faculty/smith.html

This paper will explore what to teach, how, and to whom. What knowledge, skills, and values will digital reference librarians need? How can these best be taught? (In particular what benefits are associated with teaching in virtual vs. face-to-face settings). What are the educational needs of novices (e.g., students enrolled in LIS programs) vs. experienced providers of "traditional" reference services?

Policies for Digital Reference

Lead Author: Jo Bell Whitlatch. Ph.D.
Associate Dean, SJSU Library
San Jose State University
http://www.library.sjsu.edu/staff/whitlatch/resume.htm

Suggested Readings from Participants

Bibliographies and Literature Reviews

Significant Projects and Research Environments

Funding Opportunities

The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress
The John W. Kluge Center was established to foster a mutually enriching relationship between scholars and political leaders. The center presents a new opportunity to attract to Washington the best available minds in the scholarly world, facilitate their access to the Library's remarkable collection of the world's knowledge, and engage them in conversation with the U.S. Congress and other public figures. The John W. Kluge Center accommodates up to two dozen Kluge post-doctoral Fellows pursuing resident research, usually for periods from six to twelve months. Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural topics of a kind normally not encouraged in specialized departmental settings are welcome.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services provides competitive research and/or demonstration grants for libraries through its National Leadership Grants program. Awards range from $15,000 to $500,000 for projects of up to three years. Other grants for libraries, museums and archives are also available.

Miscellaneous

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The Symposium Agenda