THE VIRTUAL REFERENCE SERVICE: a research report in Brazilian University Libraries

Abstract

The Technologies of Information and Communication (TICs) favored the appearance of a new model of Reference Service, where the user, even far away from the information unit can accomplish its research quickly and efficiently, using a computer connected to the net: the Virtual Reference Service. This work reports an exploratory research that aims to analyze the Brazilian University Libraries' Virtual Reference Service available on Internet. The methodology included a bibliographical survey and a field research, embracing Brazilian University Libraries' sites available on Internet. A questionnaire was adopted, applied via web, for data collection. The results points out the growth of Virtual Reference Service in studied libraries. It is ended that this kind of service doesn't get to be the pattern of the Virtual Reference Service, but the librarians' efforts compete so the service, more and more, expand and include tools and resources that aid the users in their searches.