Name: Cathay Crosby
Title: Assistant Director, User Services
Organization: The Internet Public Library/Drexel University iSchool
Daytime Phone: 215-895-6628 and 302-983-1430 (cell)
E-mail address: cathay@ischool.drexel.edu
Missus Homewood/Cathay’s SL Avatar
Title: The IPL: Collaborative Connexions
Description: Digital reference skills are dramatically affected by patrons’ technological
adaptations and expectations. The physical reference desk is the foundation for
telephone, email, chat/IM and other types of ways to serve our communities. As a real
reference service, the IPL provides a place for future librarians to learn while doing; but
where is this headed?
Bio: Cathay has worked in a public library, an academic library (as an undergraduate),
and in education. Her interests have been focused on young adult services, information
literacy, science and technology resources, computer services, electronic resources, chat
and email reference. Since the Internet Public Library’s move to Drexel University IST a
little over a year ago, she has immersed herself in running its 24/7 world-wide reference
service while collaborating with the many faculty, students, and researchers who are
involved in the IPL’s educational component.