24/7 Reference : Global Partnerships

In just the past 10 years, libraries have utilized a variety of technologies to facilitate on-demand provision of reference services to their users, at the users' point of need. Collaboration and cooperation has become the most frequently used method by which libraries can leverage scarce resources in order to meet an increasingly demanding user base that has an ever expanding array of information options available. This book examines the role of cooperative reference in today's information space by taking an in-depth look at the world's largest collaborative reference service, the 24/7 Reference Cooperative. The book discusses how the Cooperative provides a 24 hour live chat reference service through the coordinated efforts of over 1,400 participating libraries in the US and UK. The Cooperative's continued success, challenges, and role in a Web 2.0 world are explored.