AnswerXpress™ is a virtual reference pilot project
funded in part by LSTA grant monies. It is a collaborative effort of Ada Community Library
(Ada), Boise State University Albertsons Library (BSU) and Boise
Public Library (BPL), all located in the Boise area of southwestern
Idaho.
In 2005 three Magic Valley Libraries received LSTA grant monies to
join the consortium. In the Fall of 2005 Burley Public
Library, College of Southern Idaho, and Twin Falls Public Library
became participating members of AnswerXpress.com.
Initial interest in virtual reference was sparked by attendance
of the VRD conference in Seattle, Fall 2000. The project evolved from a series of informal
conversations, attendance of virtual reference conference
presentations, participation in the CDRS project and hosting virtual reference demonstrations
at a variety
of in-state functions. During this time all three libraries
implemented their own email reference services.
By August 2002 the three libraries were ready to write and submit
a pilot project grant to Idaho State Library. The group was awarded the grant in
March/April 2003 and work on the project began in earnest in June 2003.
After a formal RFP process during July and August 2003,
24/7 Reference service was
chosen as the project vendor. The new service was named AnswerXpress™ and is scheduled to launch in January 2004.
After a series of focus groups we chose students, junior high
school through college, to be our primary target audience.
AnswerXpress™ is made possible with funds provided
by the Idaho State Library under the Library Services Technology Act
(LSTA) administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services,
as well as funding and staffing from local libraries in Idaho.
Project contact: Vicki Kreimeyer,
Boise Public Library, 715 South Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702,
208-384-4341,
vkreimeyer@cityofboise.org
