Just a reminder of the QuestionPoint demos tomorrow and Thursday....
There are still a few spaces in each time slot.  Call the FLICC office
at 202-707-4800 to register.  The following is the message which went
out on FEDLIB and FEDREF-L a few weeks ago.

Join OCLC and FEDLINK for a demonstration of QuestionPoint, a
collaborative reference service developed by the Library of Congress and
OCLC.  The sessions will demonstrate QuestionPoint features, and will
also provide an opportunity to discuss the implementation of virtual
reference service in the federal library environment.

Four sessions will be held in the FEDLINK Training Room, Adams
Building, Room 216.
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 24, 2003
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please call (202)707-4800 to register for any of these sessions.  Since
space is limited, early registration is recommended.
Call (202)707-6362 or contact [log in to unmask] for ADA requests.

QuestionPoint is a collaborative reference service the Library of
Congress and OCLC worked together to develop, with input from
participating members of the Global Reference Network (a group of
libraries and institutions worldwide that are committed to digital
reference.) It enables libraries to:
- Respond to, track and manage reference questions from patrons via the
Web
- Refer unanswered questions to other libraries in the library's
cooperative as needed based on availability and expertise
- Refer still-unanswered questions to expert resources through a global
web-based network in which an automated "request manager" routes
questions from one library to another, based on metadata about the
question and predefined profiles of the collection, subject and staff
strengths of members of the network, etc.
- Provide libraries with tools to add simple links from any page in
their library portal to support a locally branded and customizable
question-asking service including: Web-based submission forms,
email-based interaction, and live chat for their patrons.
- Integrate QuestionPoint's global reference network with alternative
service providers the library might be using to address their local
needs.
- Search a global knowledge base of previously asked and answered
reference questions.



Steven Kerchoff, FEDLINK Network Program Specialist
FLICC/FEDLINK, Library of Congress
Washington, DC  20540-4935
202-707-4848 (voice)     202-707-4873 (fax)
[log in to unmask]