Effective training for chat reference personnel: An exploratory study

By surveying reference practitioners on their perceptions of chat reference training, this study presents effective training techniques that could enhance the professional preparation for chat reference personnel. Results indicate that the most effective training techniques involve hands-on practice among trainees and easy access to supporting materials. Librarians with different experiences and comfort levels with chat, who work in different chat reference service modes, and provide evaluation from different perspectives, have significantly different views on the effectiveness of certain training techniques.