Abstract
The purpose of this article is to explore location-based questions as a weakness of virtual reference consortia and discuss how to mitigate related issues. Content analysis of how both local and non-local academic librarians responded to location-based questions provides insight into considerations academic libraries must make when participating in a virtual reference consortia. Unobtrusive testing analyzed the local knowledge assumption that non-local librarians have difficulty answering questions about libraries beyond their own. The results from these two methods indicate academic librarians have some difficulties providing responses to library location-based questions and a discussion on overcoming this weakness is included.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2012
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/pla.2012.0036
Repository Citation
Bishop, Bradley Wade, "Can Consortial Reference Partners Answer Your Local Users’ Library Questions?" (2012). Information Science Faculty Publications. 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/slis_facpub/4
Notes/Citation Information
Published in portal: Libraries and the Academy, v. 12, no. 4, p. 355–370.
The author's peer-reviewed version is available for download.