• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.207-221
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• 2009

Reference services that use e-mail to receive reference questions and provide responses were developed as early digital reference services in the library field. However, librarians and users found that e-mail based reference services had some weak points when compared with traditional face-to-face reference services. As a result, libraries have started to create real-time reference services, which are similar to traditional face-to-face reference services through the use of synchronous chat software. Such chat reference services are focus of this paper. This paper approaches chat reference services as one of the services provided by libraries. Based on the understandings of the unique characteristics of services and the concept of "service quality", this paper tries to suggest appropriate marketing strategies of chat reference services.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2008

The Purpose of this study was to discover the factors which motivate academic library users to use chat reference service and which demotivate academic library users to use chat reference service. To achieve the study purposes, this study conducted interview with the selected participants (Information Studies graduate students at Florida State University(FSU)) through email in April and May 2007. This study found that 1) convenience, 2) anonymity, and 3) inexpensiveness of the service served as incentives(motivators) for chat reference service consumers to use the service. On the other hand, chat reference service consumers mentioned the following factors as obstacles (demotivators) for using the service: 1) waiting time, 2) accessibility, 3) interface design, and 4) difficulties with expressing themselves in a virtual space.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.75-101
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• 2006

This study is about the factors required to be considered in the aspects of policy and operation before introducing the real-time reference service and about the way to use the real-time reference service effectively, The real-time reference service should not be accepted and applied just based on the case of advanced nations without deciding how to apply and use through enough advanced investigation and example analysis. Working out in service policies, selecting appropriate programs. securing service manpower, devising privacy policies, groping the ways of cooperation between libraries, and operating the adequate evaluation system are the factors which should be considered in the policy aspect. Preparation of proper ways of application. operation time, and promotion are the factors which should be considered and reviewed in the operative aspect.