Online Tutorials: Just in Case, Just in Time

Tri-Conference 2005, Sponsored by KLA, KAECT, and KASL, March 30-April 1, 2005. Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton HotelThis file contains the proposal acceptance, presentation handout, and two PowerPoint slide presentations.Tri-Conference 200

Integrated Live Help in the Information Commons

The University of Kansas implemented an "Ask a Librarian" email reference service in February 2002. With the arrival of our new dean, we were given a mandate to expand the existing email reference service to include a "live help" component. In reviewing different software packages, we were asked to consider other services that were being used or could be used locally (on campus), regionally (in the State of Kansas) or nationally where collaboration would be possible. This gave us the opportunity to move beyond traditional library information services to look for potential applications. The timing was certainly appropriate for the implementation of a live reference service at the University of Kansas Libraries for a number of reasons. The Kansas State Library was about to start a state-wide collaborative chat service (KANAnswer) in January 2003, responsibility for the University of Kansas KUINFO (a student services information telephone line) was transferred to the library administration, the main library service areas were being reconfigured into an information commons area and the Vice-Provost for Information Services had completed a strategic planning document supporting a vision of providing an integrated and cooperative service for the university community’s information needs. The convergence of all these factors led us to select a product that would have the capability to accommodate a variety of the university’s information needs

Project Management and Institutional Collaboration in Libraries

As most libraries in the United States struggle with declining financial support, combined with the ever-increasing need to incorporate new technology into services and the profusion of resources that are available, inter-institutional cooperation is becoming more common. Planning and implementing new projects in libraries is better carried out if the project is formally managed from the beginning to ensure an orderly and efficient completion to the project. Two institutions have developed new services that they sought to expand to other institutions. Though neither project set out to use project-management techniques, the development of the new services illustrates their practical use

Broadening Our Reach: Collaborating for Improvement

ACRL 12th. National ConferenceThis document contains the proposal submitted to the Association of College and Research Libraries for a poster session at the ACRL 12th. National Conference.Association of College and Research Librarie