[collaborative-vr] Requirements for staff providing chat service

[Cristen Polley]

Hi Vince and all,

AskAway (serving academic libraries) is staffed by librarians, library technicians, and students currently enrolled in a formal LIS program. AskAway staff competencies are listed in the Service Guidelines available here: https://askaway.org/staff/service-guidelines <https://askaway.org/staff/service-guidelines>

It’s up to individual participating institutions to decide if their staff meet these competencies. When we provide training, we cover the basics of providing reference in a virtual environment, including how to incorporate the reference interview and instruction. It’s how I got my start providing reference when I was an MLIS student.

Thanks and take care! 
Cristen

> On Aug 20, 2020, at 5:18 AM, Vince Mariner <vince.mariner at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hello, all!
> 
> I hope this request finds everyone doing well during these crazy times.
> 
> As we move towards what is starting as a mostly virtual school year in PA, we are thinking about a number of things regarding our statewide chat service, Chat with a Librarian (formerly Ask Here PA). While we have advocated that staff providing chat have an MLS (or equivalently approved acronym of the day), we do feel that there are many staff lacking the degree that would be able to provide great service on chat. We did update our chat application to allow for some exceptions. Our eligibility requirements can be found on page 5 here:
> https://document.powerlibrary.org/files/portal/pdf/CWAL/ChatwithALibrarianStaffingApplication_Revised_05-29-20.pdf <https://document.powerlibrary.org/files/portal/pdf/CWAL/ChatwithALibrarianStaffingApplication_Revised_05-29-20.pdf>   
> 
> Do you only allow professional staff to provide chat or do you allow other staff?  Can you please share the policy for your service?   
> 
> Thanks,
> Vince
> 
> -- 
> Vincent Mariner
> Deputy Director
> Hosting Solutions & Library Consulting (HSLC)
> 3600 Market Street, Suite 550
> Philadelphia, PA 19104-2649
> vmariner at hslc.org <mailto:vmariner at hslc.org>
> 215-222-1532 (phone)

Cristen Polley
Coordinator, BC Electronic Library Network
m. 604.653.2334
e. cristenp at bceln.ca | w. https://bceln.ca
My pronouns are she/her/hers

Mondays - Thursdays

The BC ELN office is located on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Kwikwetlem, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/collaborative-vr/attachments/20200825/ccfed440/attachment.html>