This document discusses sustainability strategies for a statewide virtual reference cooperative after grant funding ends. It outlines maintaining a core group of over 200 participating libraries with support from the Illinois State Library and a statewide advisory board. Quality is ensured through ongoing training provided as accessibly as possible, focusing on basics like chat answering, follow-ups, and setting policy pages. While a larger decrease was anticipated, usage declined only 9% with continued service, possibly due to a lack of statewide marketing.

1. In the Beginning…

2. …There was a grant
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/336
6720659/

3. What happens when the
grant money goes away?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2097540465_ab899d61e9.jpg?v=0

4. Focus on basics
Museum of Science and Industry: http://www.msichicago.org/education/field-trips/learning-labs/all-labs/testing-the-waters/testing-the-waters-activity/

5. Quality
Sustainability

6. Sustainability
Core group of over 200
libraries
Support of Illinois State
Library
Statewide VR advisory
board

7. http://il.webjunction.org/863

8. http://www.askawayillinois.info/

9. Quality = Training

10. Training
Training as accessible
as possible

11. Training
Make sure to train on
the basics

12. Define your basics
Set-up
policy page/link up on website
Chat
answer a chat question
Follow up
answer follow up questions

13. AskAway basic training
Illinois State Library Wimba room
Chat practice queue
Screencast (Jing)
Email
Phone

14. Extras
• AskAway WI, AskMN and AskAway IL:
monthly best practice’s session
• AskAway WI Best Practices Blog:
http://www.wils.wisc.edu/ask/askawaybp
/

15. Managing needs of the
coop vs. individual library
Lucky that needs seem to
be pretty similar
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/3191602066_c7fec0467c.jpg?v=0

16. Other Challenges
Growth
Support

17. Statewide service effect
on question quantity
Jan ‘08-May ‘08: 12,872 questions
Jan ‘09-May’09: 11,754 questions

18. Statewide service effect
on question quantity
Anticipated AT LEAST a 20%
decrease in questions in 2009
ACTUALLY a 9% decrease in
questions in 2009

19. WHY WEREN’T
THE STATS EFFECTED MORE?

20. Suspect 1

21. Suspect 2
NO STATEWIDE Marketing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/3366720659/

22. Contact Information
Natalie Tagge
Illinois State Library
Ntagge@ilsos.net