thedevelopmentandchallengesofvirtualreferenceservice.docVIP

The Development and challenges of Virtual Reference Service of library in China Zhang Shuguang Reference and Research Department National Library of China 33 Zhongguancun Nandajie Haidian district Beijing, 100081, P. R. China E-mail: zhangsg@ Abstract: Virtual reference service emerged in some libraries in China along with the development of Internet. In this article, the author will give an outline of the development of virtual reference service of library in China, mainly on the aspects of its history, service technology and challenges it faces. Key Words: virtual reference, digital reference, development, China According to the “Survey on the Internet development in China, 2004”, the number of computer hosts has reached 308.9 million; and the number of Internet users has been up to 795 million in the mainland area. (CNNIC, 2004) Internet has becoming an indispensable channel for Chinese people to obtain information, increase knowledge or communicate with others. Along with the development of Internet, virtual reference service (VRS) emerged in some libraries in China some years ago, and it has enlarged the scope of traditional library services to a new level. Nowadays, virtual reference service has become a major service in some libraries, and more and more other libraries of various types are going to provide virtual service for their patrons. However, along with its rapid development, the virtual reference service of China’s library has met more and more challenges. In the following, I will give an outline of the development of virtual reference service of library in China, its service technology and, the challenges it faces. The development of virtual reference service of library in China According to the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) in USA, the definition of virtual reference service is to allow a user to submit questions to, and be answered by a librarian, using electronic means. Virtual reference can be real-time via chat synchr