Open AccessEngaging the user: Co‐browsing at the reference desk
Author(s) -
Stern Richard E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
proceedings of the american society for information science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8390
pISSN - 0044-7870
DOI - 10.1002/meet.14504201283
Subject(s) - desk , beijing , reference desk , possession (linguistics) , computer science , world wide web , multimedia , human–computer interaction , political science , linguistics , china , philosophy , law , operating system
Current configurations reference desk computers in academic libraries do not maximize student learning. To more fully engage students at the reference desk requires greater recognition that the computer is an integral part of the interaction between student and librarian. A functional reference desk should provide both students and librarians with the tools to collaborate on searching. These include continuous and unobstructed views of the computer monitor and individual possession of keyboard and mouse. Such a system is in place at Seton Hall University and in the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.