California’s Public Law Libraries

And 24/7 Reference

Presented by Shirley H. DavidDirector,

Sacramento County Public Law Library

California’s Public Law Libraries

58 County Law Libraries Bernard E. Witkin California State Law LibraryCouncil of California County Law LibrariansTwelve Libraries participating as law librarian experts with MCLS 24/7 Ref

CCCLL 24/7 Ref Project Initiation

MCLS presentation by Susan McGlamery September 2000 meeting

Shirley David appointed to monitor virtual reference developments - report

Options presented at September 2001 CCCLL meeting

Options Presented to CCLLL Members

Collaborate with MCLS 24/7 Reference Program

Free access to the software to contributorsWe choose how many hours to staff the serviceWe decide whether we want questions filtered through the MCLS librarians and/or received directly through icons on participating websitesMCLS provides training and support

Options Presented to CCLLL Members

Develop our own virtual reference network

Choose software and pay software feesChoose someone to lead the effortSelf-finance including seeking grantsShare staff resources

Options Presented to CCLLL Members

Each library may develop its own virtual reference service

Shared websites and materials from researchEach library develops its own policies Each library adds staff

Each library joins their Library of California multi-type region collaborative reference project.

Program Initiation

Asked for at least 2 hours of monitoring time per week to participateOn-line and in house training before beginMCLS provided technical supportSet up an e-mail discussion listserv hosted by a member

Before project went live, practiced among participants for several monthsAsked librarians from AALL chapters to ask questions

How it All Works

AgreementsEscort and push pages only to free websites Use e-mail list to find replacements when can’t meet scheduled hoursMonitor hours away from reference desk whenever possibleUse Judicial Council Website as first choice to find answer

How it All Works

Coordinator dutiesMonitors scripts and other dataFacilitates between MCLS staff and Law LibrariansOriginates most listserv discussionsCoordinates PR and linksReports to CCCLL

Advantages to Collaborating and Joining MCLS 24/7 Ref

Free access to MCLS e-gain library adapted software and supportNo library need add staffGeneral questions referred to MCLS

MCLS provides trainingCan use conference software for training or discussionsCan decide own policies and procedures

RECENT ENHANCEMENTS

CCCLL portal and own pagehttp://www.247ref.org/portal/access_law3.cfm?lib=law

Page choices include links to live serviceE-mail joint and individual library e-mailDirectory of county law libraries

Linked from Judicial Council Website

QRC Additional libraries joining – adding hoursQ & A Café joined 24/7 ref

Current Issues

Quality ControlNeed separate coordinator for QRCCoordinators not employer supervisors

Discussions and decisions re: scripts and websitesCan handle more questions

OTHER ISSUES

Continued FundingFor 24/7 ref – Grants, outside salesFor our libraries – This service sells!

Non contributing public law librariesAdding other experts

Medical librarians?

Will we continue?Our customers are on the Internet, they need our expertise.