Virtual Reference Desk available for PJC students

Published or Revised August 31, 2009

Live library reference chat is now available from the Paris Junior College Web site, as PJC has joined a consortium of community college libraries in Texas to offer the service. Librarians at participating colleges, joined by graduate Master of Library Science students at the University of North Texas, volunteer to work shifts answering questions from the virtual reference desk. Evolving over the past decade, the virtual reference desk allows librarians across the United States to provide better and more in-depth reference services to students in colleges and universities. Questions asked at the virtual reference desk range from the general ("How do I get a library card?") to the very specific ("How do I format a running header using the APA format?"). Students benefit by having access to a librarian during extended hours after the physical library has closed. The participating library benefits by providing expanded library services through sharing time on the virtual reference desk with other libraries. The virtual reference desk is available in the left column of each page on the PJC library's Web site. Hours for the virtual reference desk are: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. The service is closed on Saturdays. PJC is part of a consortium that includes South Texas College, Northeast Texas Community College, North Central Texas Community College, Western Texas College, and Vernon College.