My research interests include the development of electronic reference. I define electronic reference in a very broad manner. This means that I would include things like e-mail, electronic forms, chat-based software, and a few other things that the rest of the world doesn't quite seem interested in yet (wearable computers and smart rooms). My work in this area has varied. It includes a survey of current practice of chat reference service, an exploration of the reference interview in the chat environment and a general exploration of the opportunities for synchronous digital reference in all types of libraries.
I have also explored the problems of scholarly communication for science and engineering libraries. Specifically I've worked with Kate Thomes of the University of Pittsburgh to explore "What Librarians Want and Need from Journals." This work was done in response to a request to speak on the topic at the Annual Conference of the Council of Science Editors. Related interests would be in the area of data analysis for collection development.
Another area of interest is the continued improvement in the training of bibliographers and/or reference librarians. I supervise the Information Assistants that the Carnegie Mellon University Engineering and Science Library hires from the graduate students of the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Science. My goal is to provide the best possible internship experience for the graduate students.
Selected Publications:
Marsteller, Matthew R. and Jackie Schmitt-Marsteller. "Opportunities for Real-Time Digital Reference." The Reference Librarian, Forthcoming (invited), accepted for publication in Vol. 38, No. 79/80 (anticipated publication date 11/27/2003) .
Marsteller, Matthew R. and Danianne Mizzy. "Exploring the Synchronous Digital Reference Interaction for Query Types, Question Negotiation, and Patron Response." Internet Reference Services Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 1/2, 2003, p. 149-165.
Neuhaus, Paul and Matthew R. Marsteller. "Chat Reference at Carnegie Mellon University." Public Services Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, p. 29-41.
Marsteller, Matthew R. and Paul Neuhaus. "Providing Chat Reference Service: A Survey of Current Practices." In Implementing Digital Reference Services: Setting Standards and Making It Real, edited by R. David Lankes, Charles R. McClure, Melissa Gross, and Jeffrey Pomerantz. Neal-Schuman, 2002, p. 61-74.
Selected Presentations:
"Wild Wonderful Virtual Reference." Invited Speaker (with Paul Neuhaus) at the 86th Annual WVLA Conference at the Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WV, December 4, 2003.
"Models for Measuring and Evaluating Reference Costs: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Virtual Reference Services." Speaker (with Susan Ware, Penn State University - Delaware County Campus) at the Virtual Reference Desk (VRD 2003) Conference, San Antonio, TX, November 17, 2003.
"What Librarians Want and Need From Journals." Invited speaker (with Kate Thomes, University of Pittsburgh) at the Council of Science Editors Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, May 6, 2003.
"Birds of a Feather : Subject-Based Consortia for VR." Invited Panel Speaker at the Virtual Reference Desk (VRD 2002) Conference, Chicago, IL, November 11, 2002. http://www.vrd.org/conferences/VRD2002/proceedings/horowitz.shtml
"Virtual Reference Services in PALCI Member Libraries." Panel Speaker at the Fall Membership Meeting, University of Pittsburgh, November 8, 2002.
"We Deliver: Bringing Live Reference to Our Users." Invited Panel Speaker at the Discussion Forum sponsored by the Products and Services Committee, RUSA/MARS, American Library Association Midwinter Conference, January 20, 2002. http://ready.library.unlv.edu/~jvaughan/ala/marsteller.html
"Providing Chat Reference Service: A Survey of Current Practices." Paper given (with Paul Neuhaus, Carnegie Mellon) at the Virtual Reference Desk (VRD 2001) Conference, Orlando, FL, November 13, 2001. http://www.vrd.org/conferences/VRD2001/proceedings/neuhaus.shtml
"The Chat Reference Experience at Carnegie Mellon University." Poster Session (with Paul Neuhaus, Carnegie Mellon). American Library Association. June 16, 2001. http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~matthewm/ALA_2001_chat.html
"Electronic Reference." Paper presented at the West Virginia Library Association Annual Conference, Shepardstown, WV, November, 1999. http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~matthewm/erefwvla.html