View from a Virtual Reference Desk

A number of articles have been published in recent years relating to the field or embedded librarian. In addition to this changing model of librarianship, many more librarians are working a virtual world with users approaching them through chat or IM reference sites and e-mail. What are the other ways in which reference is provided in the virtual world, and more importantly, how do we assess these avenues? This paper will discuss the variety of tools that are available to the embedded librarian who works without a physical library and will also explore efficient and effective ways to assess of virtual reference that are both quantitative and qualitative.