The Study Of Collaborative Virtual Reference System In Libraries

With the rapid development of computer network, most of theuniversities in our country have established their own referenceplatforms to develop online service and improve the service qualityof reference in libraries. They aim to meet users' various needs inreal time via the online reference platform. Some of the westerncountries set up the electronic reference in 1984, which is regardedas the first online digital reference service in the world. The digitalreference service developed rapidly. Within several years, it ran tothe joint referencesystem, which now is progressing fast into a newera. The digital reference service in China appeared not until 1990s,nevertheless has developed rapidly in the last few years. However,compared with some developed counties, there are still deficienciesand imbalance in development, which have something to do with China'situations.The author has begun to cope with library reference servicesince2002 when starting working, so he has read much relevant informationand articles and tried several different reference systems. Since thedepartment where the author works wasnot rich enough to buy such kindof product, and it was vitally necessary to develop the onlinereference service in the library, the author undertook the job ofdesigning the system. Now the self-designed reference system has beenput into service with satisfied effectiveness. Please visit thereference system at the website: In the first two chapters, this paper introduces generally thehistory of the virtual reference platform at home and abroad. Theoverseas reference service developed earlier and faster than thedomestic one. Then, the paper states its motivation, definition andits service characteristics: first, it is free from space and time;second, its service means and methods are automatic, electronic andonline; third, its answers to the consultations are intelligent; forth,its information resources are extensive and diverse; finally, itsservice scope is broad. The author has investigated current situationsof the digital reference service in our country, and drawn a conclusionthat the development is unbalanced. However, most of the universitiesat home are promoting its development significantly, which will driveit tobe more mature and developed.In Chapter Three, the author briefly introduces the three keytechnologies involved in constructing a virtual reference platform:the cooperative working technology, the cooperative applicationsharing technology, and the multithreading mechanism. In Chapter Four,the author illustrates a design project of the joint reference systemexpanded mainly from a local reference system into a global one, whichis the ultimate goal of the digital reference in the future. The authortakes the virtual reference platform in the library of Hanshan NormalUniversity as an example to expound the design process and its trialfunctioning effectiveness.At the end, the author draws a conclusion and makes an outlookof the paper.