title: Digital reference service: trends in academic health science libraries.
abstract: Two years after the initial 2002 study, a greater number of academic health science libraries are offering digital reference chat services, and this number appears poised to grow in the coming years. This 2004 follow-up study found that 36 (27%) of the academic health science libraries examined provide digital chat reference services; this was an approximately 6% increase over the 25 libraries (21%) located in 2002. Trends in digital reference services in academic health science libraries were derived from the exploration of academic health science library Web sites and from digital correspondence with academic health science library personnel using e-mail and chat. This article presents an overview of the current state of digital reference service in academic health science libraries.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, School of Library and Information Science, Tampa 33620, USA. cdee@cas.usf.edu
authors.forename: Cheryl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Dee
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D016494:Computer Security; D003625:Data Collection; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D007999:Library Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface