Holy Cross and AJCU Implement Virtual Reference Program

Beginning September 13, Holy Cross will join with 18 other Jesuit institutions across the country in providing a collaborative Virtual Reference service. Online reference librarian assistance will be offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week - even if the library is closed.

In a twist on the traditional library consortium - which is usually organized around a particular geographic location - the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) has signed on with Tutor.com to create a national service for member colleges. Students, faculty and staff at any of the 19 participating colleges can log on any time, from anywhere, and get one-on-one assistance from a professional reference librarian via an online chat messaging system.

Now, students working on papers late into the night won't be limited by the library's hours of operation. Because the participating libraries include AJCU schools from Boston to Los Angeles, librarians will be available in every time zone.

Once logged into the system, librarian and student will be able to browse for resources together. Students will see on their screen all the databases and Web sites that the librarian is searching. The librarian will also be able to send word documents and images to students through email. At the end of each session, the student will receive a complete transcript of their conversation, including links to all Web sites visited, in their email inbox.

"Holy Cross students, faculty, and administrators are all thrilled to participate with our sister Jesuit institutions across the country in this exciting new program," said James Hogan, Director of Libraries. "We will not only be providing an important and timely service to students during the academic year, we'll also be giving them - through this innovative interaction with professional research librarians - lifelong research tools and skills."

To access the new Virtual Reference Librarian service, click on the "Ask-a-librarian" link from the Library's home page. You may also contact Patty Porcaro, Head of Reader Services, via email at pporcaro@holycross.edu.

Other participating colleges include Canisius College (New York), Creighton University (Nebraska), Fairfield University (Connecticut) Fordham University (New York) Georgetown University (Washington D.C.), John Carroll University (Ohio), Le Moyne College (New York), Loyola College (Maryland), Loyola Marymount University (California), Loyola University Chicago (Illinois), Loyola University New Orleans (Louisiana), Marquette University (Wisconsin), Santa Clara University (California), St. Joseph's University (Pennsylvania), University of Detroit Mercy (Michigan), University of San Francisco (California), University of Scranton (Pennsylvania), Xavier University (Ohio).

Related information:

# Library # Ask-a-Librarian # www.tutor.com # Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities