LIBR 246-12: Web 2.0 and Social Networking Tools (Fall 2008)

Part 1

I chose question number 2, “What is the Gross Domestic Product per capita of Bahrain?”

Part 2

Librarian: Okay, well take care Dan, good luck with your classes.
Dan: I am in a class and I needed to ask a reference question using virtual refernce
Librarian: sure thing, thank you for using AskNow
Dan: Ok I thank you for your time
Librarian: and Per capita GDP was $20,600
Librarian: Real GDP growth rate was 7.1%
Librarian: According to the "Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2009," the GDP in 2006 (est) was $12.07 billion
Dan: Hello?
Librarian: one moment please
Dan: How would you answer that question
Dan: Let's pretend I am not in the GSLIS program
Librarian: Have you tried looking at resources like EIU Country Reports
Dan: No
Dan: Good day
Librarian: Hi Dan, I see you are a GSLIS student. Is this question for one of your Reference classes?
Dan: What is the Gross Domestic Product per capita of Bahrain?
Librarian: Hello Dan. Welcome to AskNow live chat. I am reading over your questions right now...

It took 12 minutes for the librarian to answer the question. She also gave me the wrong (a 2006 answer instead of 2007 available from the CIA).

There interface was bleak and I have screen shots but I did not want to post them because it would name the library. Not a good beginning.

Part 3

I used Gtalk (Google’s IM client).

IM Google Client question

Started at 2:56(was online not until noon) Library2 did not respond until 3:01

Here follows the transcript.

Daniel: Good Day. May I ask you a question?

Library2: I'm available

Sent at 2:56 PM on Wednesday

Library2: Hi! What is your research question?

Daniel: What is the Gross Domestic Product per capita of Bahrain?

Library2: Here's what's listed in the CIA World Factbook:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ba.html#Econ

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$33,900 (2007 est.)

Daniel: Ahhh ok thank you very much

While waiting I contacted another library:

Here Follows the transcript:

Library3 is online right now (online friends have a green dot). Type below and press the Enter key to send an instant message.

Daniel: What is the Gross Domestic Product per capita of Bahrain?

I was wondering if you could help with that

Library3: Ok, let me see what I can do.

Can you give me a minute?

Daniel: Yes thank you

Library3: Where have you looked already?

Daniel: Well I have just started and was hoping you could help me with this assignment

Library3: Still looking....

Here's the CIA World Factbook online:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Choose "Bahrain"

and it will give you some economic data there.

Daniel: Ahhh ok then thank you

Library3: $33,900 per capita

Anything else I can help you with?

Daniel: No thank you

Library3: You're welcome.

Part 4: Reflections

Well first of all, the first two took awhile to respond (over 5 minutes each). I am not being picky, but they could have typed I will be with you in a second. I did not know what was going or if anyone was even there.

The virtual reference desk got the question wrong. I do not what to say that. Even I could have gotten this right way back in college. The default for international questions is the CIA/World Factbook.

Library3 was quick to answer, asked what research I had done (only person to ask) provide me how to get the information, and then the answer. Well done.

1/3 of the experiences was overall good. If I had stopped after two I would have a negative impression about virtual reference.

I guess if I was just an undergrad how would I feel about? I do not know, but giving the wrong answer I think is almost unacceptable. It also seems that friendliness can be easily lost in online librarianship.