This requires nothing from the patron but a browser no downloads, no plugins, no configuring, no IDs, no appointments. We plan to implement the service in January 2001. Librarians will use the collaborative browsing feature with patrons who contact us via chat as well as those who initially contact the library through phone and e-mail. In other words, whenever we want to demonstrate how to use something on the Web to a patron who is not at the reference desk, we can just ask them to go to our Ask A Librarian Web site and click the Live Help button. NC State has 1,400 distance education students.
Collaborative software represents one of the most interesting frontiers on the Web.
Commercial sites like Lands End allow customers to shop together. Business people use software such as NetMeeting and WebEx to hold meetings online. As a library, we want to experiment with this technology and see where it leads. If you are not affiliated with NC State, we regret we can only answer questions about services and collections unique to the university. Other inquiries may be referred to more appropriate libraries or sources of information.