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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

A Reference Model For Providing Statistical Consulting Services In An Academic Library Setting, Kristi Anne Thompson, Daniel M. Edelstein Jul 2004

A Reference Model For Providing Statistical Consulting Services In An Academic Library Setting, Kristi Anne Thompson, Daniel M. Edelstein

Leddy Library Publications

Princeton University Library, through its Data and Statistical Services (DSS) unit, goes further than many libraries in providing consulting on statistical methods as well as software support for data library users. Princeton requires all third and fourth year undergraduates to do independent original research papers and theses in their disciplines of concentration. These requirements create a clientele of students who need to conduct relatively sophisticated statistical analysis, but who may or may not possess the necessary skills required to do so. This paper describes the model we employ at Princeton DSS to help these patrons, drawing on our experience as …


Social Life Of Digital Reference: What The Technology Affords, Mita Williams Jun 2004

Social Life Of Digital Reference: What The Technology Affords, Mita Williams

Leddy Library Publications

Digital reference service (also known as virtual reference) has become a contentious topic in the library literature, as some critics feel that it threatens reference service more than it enhances it. Through this paper it is hoped that the debate can be refocused after a careful assessment of what exactly digital reference technology can afford and what social impact such affordances could bring. The suggestion will be made that digital reference should be employed as a means to provide reference service as long as the service is designed to play to the strengths of the technology. As such, it is …