Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Distance Education And Virtual Reference: Implementing A Marketing Plan At Texas A&M University, Karen I. Macdonald, Wyoma Vanduinkerken

University Library Faculty Publications

Texas A&M University Libraries has been testing virtual reference services since February 2004, but during the fall semester 2005, the Libraries began implementing and actively promoting the services to various target groups. Distance education students were identified as a primary target group for virtual reference services, and as of the fall semester 2005, approximately 1,600 students were enrolled in 190 distance education classes. This paper presents the Libraries plan for promoting virtual reference services to distance education students and faculty and for evaluating the plan.