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.