[collaborative-vr] Questions about Service Contributions for AskAway Working Group

Cristen Polley cristenp at bceln.ca
Wed Sep 4 12:31:10 PDT 2024


Hi Collaborative VR folks,

Thanks so much to those who have responded and shared information about how your service is set-up!

The AskAway Working Group<https://bceln.ca/services/learning-support/askaway/committees-groups/askaway-commitment-models-review-working-group> is still gathering information about how collaborative virtual reference services are funded and staffed. This will inform our review of AskAway’s current commitment models<https://bceln.ca/services/learning-support/askaway/commitment-models> to ensure the sustainability of our service.

If you’re willing to respond to the questions below, we’d be very grateful to hear from you. We’re hoping to gather responses by Monday, September 9.

Anything you share will be kept within the Working Group only to inform our work. If you’d prefer to meet via Zoom rather than respond via email, please let me know and I’m happy to set this up!

If you are willing to share your experiences, we have the following questions:

  1.  Overall, how are contributions from member libraries decided upon (e.g., full-time student enrollment)
  2.  How is your service funded?
  3.  How is your service staffed?

     *   Is there a staffing model and how is it set-up?
     *   Who staffs the service (e.g., librarians, library technicians)?
     *   How are evenings and weekends covered?

  1.  What works well?
  2.  What needs improvement?

Thanks for your time,
Cristen

Cristen Polley (she/her)
AskAway Coordinator
BC Electronic Library Network
604.653.2334 | cristenp at bceln.ca<mailto:cristenp at bceln.ca>
Available Tuesday-Friday

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



From: collaborative-vr <collaborative-vr-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> on behalf of Cristen Polley via collaborative-vr <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>
Reply-To: cristenp <cristenp at bceln.ca>
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 12:08 PM
To: "collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov" <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: [collaborative-vr] Questions about Service Contributions for AskAway Working Group

Hi Collaborative VR folks,

I hope you’re all having a good summer!

I’m reaching out on behalf of a new AskAway working group, the Commitment Models Review Working Group, with a request for information (please see the email shared below).

To provide some context, the working group is reviewing AskAway’s commitment models to plan for the long-term sustainability of the service and would like to learn how other collaborative chat and VR services have set-up their staffing and funding models. I’m a member of the working group, and it’s also made up of service providers, local coordinators, and Advisory Committee members. More info about the group is available here<https://bceln.ca/services/learning-support/askaway/committees-groups/askaway-commitment-models-review-working-group>.

Below, I’m sharing an email from David Leggett, one of the group members, asking for information about your service’s commitments and contributions and what works well / what might need improvement. Anything shared will be kept within the working group only to inform our work.

If you are willing to respond to the questions below, please email me, cristenp at bceln.ca<mailto:cristenp at bceln.ca>. We’re aiming to gather information before September 9, 2024 but can be flexible if that would help 😊. If it would be easier to meet via Zoom or connect another way to share this information, I’m happy to set that up. Please let me know what works best for you, and if you have any questions at all.

Thank you,
Cristen

~ ~ ~

Dear colleagues,

I am writing you on behalf of the BC ELN AskAway Commitment Models Review Working Group.  We are beginning the work of reviewing what our service asks of our partner institutions with regards to financial commitments, staff workloads, and related requirements and options.  As part of our work, we are very interested in how other consortia reference services have addressed these aspects, to see what we can learn, and apply to our situation.

If you are willing to share your experiences, we have the following questions:

  1.  Overall, how are contributions from member libraries decided upon (e.g., full-time student enrollment)
  2.  How is your service funded?
  3.  How is your service staffed?

     *   Is there a staffing model and how is it set-up?
     *   Who staffs the service (e.g., librarians, library technicians)?
     *   How are evenings and weekends covered?

  1.  What works well?
  2.  What needs improvement?

I thank you greatly on behalf of the entire Working Group for your time, consideration, and information.  Anything shared will be kept in confidence and shared only within the working group as we continue our deliberations; nothing will be shared with outside parties without your express consent.

David Leggett
Library Coordinator, NVIT
on behalf of the Commitment Models Review Working Group

~ ~ ~

Cristen Polley (she/her)
AskAway Coordinator
BC Electronic Library Network
604.653.2334 | cristenp at bceln.ca<mailto:cristenp at bceln.ca>
Available Tuesday-Friday

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