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• Reference Services
• Dec 07 - Jan 08
• Issue: 218

QuestionPoint Virtual Reference Webinar

Virtual Reference Webinar was held on November 15th and featured two of the most innovative publicity campaigns for virtual reference services. Both speakers utilized the media and social networking utilities to build awareness of their QuestionPoint service. You can listen to the virtual reference webinar online at http://www5.oclc.org/downloads/questionpoint/QP_15Nov2007.wmv. (Note: There is a 2 minute music hold at the beginning of the recording)

Abstract

Beth Cackowski, the project coordinator of New Jersey’s statewide service QandANJ.org, presented about their QandANJ.org ad on MTV (you can view the ad at http://www.QandANJ.org/mtv). Using PollDaddy, Beth reported that usage went up 50% the night the ad was shown, and 20% over the course of the next month. 500 people said they saw the ad on MTV. QandANJ.org is also running ads at movie theaters, at a rate of $10 per screen per week.

Diana Sachs-Silveira, project coordinator of Florida’s Ask a Librarian service, discussed “The Director's Chair,” a YouTube contest in which Florida high school students produce a commercial for the Ask A Librarian service. Contestants should “make a creative and entertaining 30-second video that tells the world just how wonderful Ask a Librarian is,” then load it onto YouTube, and the public will select the winner.

[Jennifer Hawkes, OCLC Services Librarian, Nylink]

OCLC Reference and FirstSearch Contact Information

For additional question about QuestionPoint or any of the QP topics covered here, please contact Donna Dixon (dixond@nylink.org) for more information.