1 Evaluating Virtual Outreach Services: The VIVOS Project Experience Alison Yeoman, Janet Cooper, Christine Urquhart and Alyson Tyler

2 Definition of VIVOS Value and Impact of Virtual Outreach Services Covered any services that enabled healthcare professionals to access information without physically coming into the library

3 Aims To develop and evaluate methodologies or sets of methods, for determining the value and impacts of virtual outreach information services in the health sector The findings were intended to inform guidelines for project management of similar services

4 Objectives To improve existing evaluation methods To suggest methods appropriate for this type of study To validate the study through the use of multiple methods To evaluate training approaches for community staff To develop research skills among librarians

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6 Methodologies

7 Total number of interviews: 137 Total number of questionnaires: 518

8 Keys to the information doors The goal Motivation Sensitivity to local issues Wide-ranging support Meeting the needs of users Awareness & early identification of benefits

9 Keeping the doors open Process of review & feedback Continuing support for users Cascading of skills Continued evolution of the project

10 Conclusions: Vital elements of virtual outreach projects Seamless & structured training Continuous support for users Constant monitoring of user needs Topicality, timeliness & relevance Active promotion of services & training Adequate IT infrastructure Successful evolution of the project

11 And for me it was such a great achievement, to roll all that together just seemed like something that I would never ever, ever be able to do…because I am a doer, I am not a writer or a thinker, I am a hands-on person really, so it was a great achievement really.

12 VIVOS Project Report Available via: (Research pages)