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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Hi Vince, et al,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Interesting question! I have been pondering this as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I find that a) many people providing in-person reference service throughout the state don’t have masters degrees, and b) a high number of questions coming in through virtual
reference are more circulation/public service rather than traditional reference. So it makes me wonder whether experience is more valuable than the degree for the purpose of my program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">My service (Answerland) doesn’t have any written policy for partner libraries. I leave it up to the liaisons to determine who they feel is qualified to staff the service.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">For our volunteer program, our current eligibility requirements are either having the MLIS or having taken a MLIS reference class within the past 10 years. Historically we
have hired a lot of MLIS students, but I’m finding more bachelor-level students applying.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I’m interested to hear what others have to say on this topic!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">-Tamara<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#595959">Tamara Ottum<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#595959">(she/her)</span></i><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#595959"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#595959">Answerland Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><a href="https://answerland.org/"><span style="color:#1F4E79">answerland.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#595959">State Library of Oregon | Library Support & Development Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><a href="mailto:tamara.ottum@state.or.us"><span style="color:#1F4E79">tamara.ottum@state.or.us</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5">
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#595959">|
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><a href="tel:%20(503)%20378-6506"><span style="color:#1F4E79">503-378-6506</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#595959">
| </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library"><span style="color:#1F4E79">www.oregon.gov/library</span></a></span><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> collaborative-vr [mailto:collaborative-vr-bounces@omls.oregon.gov]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Vince Mariner<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 20, 2020 5:18 AM<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Collaborative Virtual Reference <collaborative-vr@listsmart.osl.state.or.us><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [collaborative-vr] Requirements for staff providing chat service<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, all!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I hope this request finds everyone doing well during these crazy times.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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:<br>
<a href="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</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Do you only allow professional staff to provide chat or do you allow other staff? Can you please share the policy for your service?
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<br>
Vince<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- <br>
Vincent Mariner<br>
Deputy Director<br>
Hosting Solutions & Library Consulting (HSLC)<br>
3600 Market Street, Suite 550<br>
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2649<br>
<a href="mailto:vmariner@hslc.org">vmariner@hslc.org</a><br>
215-222-1532 (phone)<o:p></o:p></p>
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