From a library listserve – another library person reaching out for ideas! We are posting a few of the suggestions other people have offered. If you have other ideas, you can leave them below; and if you are facing this issue hopefully you get some ideas!
“Has anyone working in an academic library providing virtual reference services tried increasing usage?
If so, how did you market/promote this service? What were the results of the plan you generated?
At this time, we are beginning to test the waters of a promotion plan geared towards increasing usage of virtual reference. Particularly those of a research nature. Currently, most questions are directional, informational or instructional (unrelated to research).
The big roll out will be in the fall as we will work over the summer to develop specific marketing based upon student demographics such as: international, online, graduate, undergraduate, non-trad, traditional, commuters etc…. Going into finals, we are running a contest to encourage students to use virtual reference while conducting research for papers and projects. The prize for both weeks will be a pair of wireless headphones (Skullcandy). Keeping our fingers crossed…
Thanks for any feedback you’d like to share”
Continue reading Do you have ideas on virtual reference service in academic libraries?
