<div>Hello everybody</div><div><br></div><div>On April 16th 2013, we will celebrate L-net's 10th anniversary! </div><div><br></div><div>It would be impossible to thank everyone who has been involved, but let us say that we are grateful to have had the help of hundreds of Oregon library staff in answering over 230,000 questions since the service began.</div>
<div><br></div><div>After 10 years of letting everyone who lives, works or goes to school in Oregon connect to a librarian by live chat, email and text messaging, now is the perfect time to re-examine the purpose and goals of the program.</div>
<div><br></div><div>To start with:</div><div><br></div><div>What are Oregonian's reference and information service needs that can be addressed by Oregon libraries working together?</div><div><br></div><div>We need your help to find out. </div>
<div><br></div><div>The State Librarian wishes to convene a task force on the future of statewide cooperative reference services for Oregon libraries. The goal is to determine how Oregon libraries, working together, can best meet the information needs of all Oregonians with available resources. </div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>WHEN: </div><div><br></div><div>An initial meeting will be held the week of April 15th.</div><div><br></div><div>The task force should report by August 16, 2013 and deliver an interim statement May 1, 2013 in order to mesh with current planning cycles at the Oregon State Library. </div>
<div><br></div><div>L-net (soon to be Answerland) is currently funded through June 2014 and will continue to be hosted at Multnomah County Library through June 2014. The future and structure of L-net and statewide cooperative reference services after June 2014 will be strongly influenced by this statewide conversation.</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>TO PARTICIPATE</div><div><br></div><div>To participate, contact MaryKay Dahlgreen, <a href="mailto:marykay.dahlgreen@state.or.us">marykay.dahlgreen@state.or.us</a>, briefly stating your interest by March 29, 2013. </div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>SOME BACKGROUND:</div><div><br></div><div>L-net was created in response to the collective expression of need by Oregon’s library community.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2001, the Oregon Library Association’s Vision 2010 Committee wrote in “A Call to Action” (<a href="http://www.olaweb.org/assets/documents/olaq_7no3.pdf">http://www.olaweb.org/assets/documents/olaq_7no3.pdf</a>) that we should “Create a collaborative on-line reference service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” </div>
<div><br></div><div>A year later, the Oregon State Library convened the Statewide E-Reference Task Force (<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20041210213421/http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/libdev/eref/eref.htm">http://web.archive.org/web/20041210213421/http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/libdev/eref/eref.htm</a>), which ulimately recommended the model that L-net uses today, including the use of LSTA funding to operate the program. </div>
<div><br></div><div>In 2010 OLA’s Vision 2020 Task Force included collaboration in their vision, stating, “In
2020,
Oregon
librarians
will
rely
on
dynamic
professional
networks
–
local,
statewide
and
beyond
–
for
resources,
support
and expertise” (<a href="http://www.olaweb.org/assets/documents/Vision_2020_FINAL.pdf">http://www.olaweb.org/assets/documents/Vision_2020_FINAL.pdf</a>)</div>
<div><br></div><div>L-net (<a href="http://www.oregonlibraries.net">www.oregonlibraries.net</a>) has been successful. The service has received over 35,000 questions by live chat, email and text messaging annually, and over 200 people working in 45 Oregon public, academic and special libraries contribute to the service regularly.</div>
<div><br></div><div>The Oregon State Library has a statutory responsibility to provide for statewide cooperative reference services as outlined in ORS 357.206 and 357.005 (2)(d). This has been reflected in the former Reference LINK program and now in L-net. Details of the current cooperative reference services are outlined in OAR 543 Div 60. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Thank you,</div><div><br></div><div>Caleb Tucker-Raymond</div><div>Statewide Reference Service Coordinator</div><div>Multnomah County Library</div><div>(503) 988-5438</div><div><a href="mailto:calebt@multco.us">calebt@multco.us</a></div>
<div><br></div><div>MaryKay Dahlgreen</div><div>State Librarian</div><div>Oregon State Library</div><div><a href="mailto:marykay.dahlgreen@state.or.us">marykay.dahlgreen@state.or.us</a></div><div>503-378-4367</div><div><br>
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