The Development of the Virtual Notebook, a Wiki-Based Ready Reference Technology

• Published in: Reference and user services quarterly Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 27 - 34
• Main Authors: Bejune, Matthew M., Morris, Sara E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Library Association 22.09.2010
• Subjects: Academic libraries; Company business management; Desks; Education; Educational Technology; Electronic dictionaries and encyclopedias; Electronic reference; Electronic reference books; Engines; Exact sciences and technology; History; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Information service management; Information Services; Knowledge Management; Librarians; Libraries; Libraries and readers; Library and documentation centre management; Library operations; Library Personnel; Library Services; Management; Online Catalogs; Online ready reference work; Online Systems; Product development; Public services (Libraries); Reference Services; Science; Sciences and techniques of general use; Services; Social sciences; Software; Technological change; Technology; Technology application; University and college libraries; University libraries; User service management; Virtual reference services (Libraries); Wikis; Word Processing; United States; New York; United States > US; Chicago Illinois; Case study; Information service; Reference service; Wiki; Library; Information technology; Implementation
• ISSN: 1094-9054; 2163-5242
• DOI: 10.5860/rusq.50n1.27

Traditionally, library professionals have used a variety of ready reference technologies to assist in providing reference and user services. Technologies such as card files, vertical files, and reference notebooks are frequent components of library service desks. Ready reference technologies serve many purposes, most notably, helping staff to answer frequently asked questions and facilitating the sharing of information between library staff. This paper traces the development of the Virtual Notebook, a wiki-based ready reference technology, at Purdue University. The tool is placed within the historical context of ready reference technologies within the library profession and at Purdue. The authors present preliminary results from the implementation of the Virtual Notebook and discuss the tool's future. The manuscript is an outgrowth of a presentation at the 2008 Brick and Click Symposium at Northwest Missouri State University.