DIGITAL LIBRARIES

摘要

Nearly three-and a-half years ago I wrote about digital reference in these pages (LJ 6/15/99, p. 30ff.). Clearly, we have come a long way. Back then computer-based chat was nearly the only option for providing that service. Today, we can choose from a baker's dozen of full-featured online reference products (for a complete rundown of the choices, see "Live Digital Reference Marketplace," LJ netConnect, Fall 2002, p. 16-19). Yet another indicator of the recent popularity of digital reference is the advent of both an annual conference (the Virtual Reference Desk meeting) and an electronic discussion (DIG_REF) devoted to the topic. Although some online reference pioneers (such as R. David Lankes of "AskERIC") may argue that the trend to move the reference encounter to the Internet began a good while ago, most librarians were not seriously thinking about delivering reference service via this method until recently.