The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Library Network's (VALNET) Virtual Reference Service-Librarians On Call

• Published in: Journal of hospital librarianship Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 175 - 187
• Main Authors: Stephenson, Priscilla L., Taylor, Mary Virginia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Taylor & Francis Group 01-04-2011; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Cooperation; Electronic mail; Electronic mail systems; electronic reference service; Hospital libraries; Libraries; Online reference work; reference service; Reference services; United States Department of Veterans Affiars; Veterans; virtual reference service; United States > US
• ISSN: 1532-3269; 1532-3277
• DOI: 10.1080/15323269.2011.558408

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) libraries have a successful e-mail virtual reference service that can serve as a model for other groups of solo librarians. The Librarians On Call (LOC) program provides back-up reference coverage for the VA's many solo librarians and library technicians when their librarians are not available during regularly scheduled hours of operation. Usage data indicate the service is used by many types of health professionals to answer a variety of types of reference questions. This article examines the history and operations of the LOC program and discusses how it supports the VA's library network.