Keywords
Tele-Reference, Reference Services, Research and Information Services, Academic Libraries, COVID-19
Abstract
At the University of Central Florida Libraries, a new alternative to traditional reference service was adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic as a remote solution for safely staffing the Research and Information Desk (RAID) at the John C. Hitt Library. Due to the challenges of a partial library reopening at the height of COVID-19 variant infection rates in Florida, a safe alternative to physically staffing RAID was conceived and coined “Tele-Reference.” Utilizing a Zoom institutional license and readily available work equipment with audio and video capabilities, the Tele-Reference service model was developed by our research and information services librarians. The implementation, challenges, assessment, and future directions of using Tele-Reference at the University of Central Florida Libraries, as well as possible applications at other institutions, are explored herein.
Publication Date
1-2022
Document Type
Book Chapter
Copyright Status
Author retained
Publication Version
Publisher's version
Rights
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
College
Information Technologies & Resources
Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
Department
University Libraries
STARS Citation
Avila, Sandy; Norris, Sarah A.; Murphey, Rebecca M.; Tong, Min; and Harrison, Richard, "The Tele-Reference Model: Adopting Virtual Tools to Enhance Reference Services During COVID-19 and Beyond" (2022). Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 1054.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/ucfscholar/1054
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