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<p class="MsoNormal">I apologize for the cross-posting but I think this needs to be widely distributed:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><a href="http://answerland.org/"><span style="color:#1155CC">Answerland</span></a>, Oregon's statewide virtual reference service which
lets anyone connect to a librarian by live chat, email or text messaging, will be transitioning from </span><a href="http://multcolib.org/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1155CC">Multnomah County Library</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"> to </span><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/osl"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1155CC">Oregon
State Library</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"> in July of 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222">The transition team is made up of Darci Hanning (</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#002060">Technology
Development Consultant</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"> for Library Support and Development Services at Oregon State Library), Rachael Short (Answerland Coordinator), and Emily Papagni (Answerland Support
Librarian). The team enjoys the guidance of the </span><a href="https://www.answerland.org/advisory-board"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1155CC">Answerland Advisory Board</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222">The transition team will be undertaking a software selection process for vendor-hosted virtual reference software. A vendor-hosted
platform will be more affordable </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">and require less maintenance by staff than the current software. It should also </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222">allow
the service to keep up-to-date with transitions in technology without additional outlays of investment. Training on the new software will be organized by Answerland staff, and is planned to begin in May.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222">We plan to continue all existing services of Answerland: chat, email, text, and 24/7 backup service. We will communicate regularly
to keep you up to date. A transition page is in place at </span><a href="https://www.answerland.org/transition" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1155CC">https://www.answerland.org/transition</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Since 2003 Answerland has been Oregon's collaborative virtual reference service. The service is staffed by 48 number of partner libraries
and by volunteers, and answers an average of 35,000 questions by live chat, email and text messaging annually.<br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Answerland is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by
the Oregon State Library. The fiscal agent for the program since its inception in 2003 has been Multnomah County Library. The Oregon State Library Board of Trustees met on December 5 and voted unanimously in support of moving Answerland from Multnomah County
Library to the Oregon State Library.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:29.25pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white">If you have questions about the transition, please contact Rachael Short (rachaels@multco.us), the Answerland Service
Coordinator. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please also feel free to call or e-mail me if you have questions,
<a href="mailto:marykay.dahlgreen@state.or.us">marykay.dahlgreen@state.or.us</a> 503-378-4367<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">MaryKay Dahlgreen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Oregon State Librarian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">503-378-4367<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">marykay.dahlgreen@state.or.us<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">http://oregon.gov/osl<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><img border="0" width="192" height="144" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D02C2C.C3C64B00" alt="StoryTime_Core.png"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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